Tajir M, Elmachad M, Kabbaj N, Laarabi FZ, Barkat A, Amrani N, Sefiani A. Frequency of IL28B rs12979860 single-nucleotide polymorphism alleles in newborn infants and in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Morocco.
Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2012;
16:981-3. [PMID:
22509814 DOI:
10.1089/gtmb.2011.0353]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological and experimental evidence support the role of host genetics in treatment response and viral clearance in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Recently, the CC genotype of IL28B single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 has been associated with spontaneous viral clearance and a better treatment response. The distribution of this polymorphism varies according to populations. Frequency of rs12979860 SNP alleles in the Moroccan population is unknown. The aim of our study was to estimate the frequency of the C allele of this SNP in the Moroccan population and, in parallel, in a cohort of Moroccan patients with CHC treated with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin.
METHODS
We used real-time polymerase chain reaction assay based on TaqMan technology to determine the allele frequency of the rs12979860 SNP in 100 Moroccan newborn infants. We also compared the frequency of the CC genotype between two groups of patients with genotype 1-CHC treated by combination therapy: group1, n=30 patients, responders who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) and group2, n=30 patients, nonresponders.
RESULTS
The rs12979860 C allele frequency was estimated to be 73% in the Moroccan population. The frequency of this allele in the group of patients with CHC was only 58.3%, and the CC genotype is more prevalent in group1 (62.5%) than in group 2.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report providing genetic data related to the frequency of genetic polymorphisms of IL28B in Morocco. The C-allele frequency of the IL28B gene SNP rs12979860 in Morocco is higher than in the African populations. Distribution of this SNP distinguishes in a population of CHC between SVR and nonresponders. This result merits consideration and should be studied by analyzing a larger sample size of patients.
Collapse