Combination of genetic polymorphisms in TLR influence cytokine profile in HCV patients treated with DAAs in the State of Amazonas

Hepatitis C is a public health problem and affects approximately 3% of the world's population. HCV infections have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, and several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes of the toll-like receptors are cited to influence the clinical outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Amazonas State, Brazil in which SNPs in TLR4 and TLR9 genes were genotyped by PCR-RFLP in 151 HCV chronic liver disease patients and 206 healthy donors. The circulating cytokines IL-6, TNF, IL-10, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17A were measured by cytometric bead array (CBA) which revealed that the combined genotypes of TLR9 -1237T/T and -1486C/T seem to influence the cytokine profile under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of the Th17 profile, especially among patients with advanced chronic liver disease when treated with DAAs.

Frequency of Interleukins IL1ß/IL18 and Inflammasome NLRP1/NLRP3 Polymorphisms in Sickle Cell Anemia Patients and their Association with Severity Score

BACKGROUND

Interleukins IL1ß/IL18 and Inflammasome NLRP1/NLRP3 polymorphisms can change the course of multiple human diseases, both inflammatory as infectious. SNPs these proteins were associated with the constructive activation of the Inflammasome and excessive production of IL-1β induce a serious autoinflammatory disease, as sickle cell anemia (SCA). The present study aims to association of interleukins IL1ß/IL18 and inflammasome NLRP1/NLRP3 polymorphisms in SCA patients in Amazon region and their association with severity score.

METHODS

The study was developed at Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM) with 21 patients diagnosed SCA (HbSS) and 50 Healthy Donor´s. Genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukins IL1ß/IL18 and inflammasome NLRP1/NLRP3 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and real time PCR. Simple and multiple logistic regression were performed to investigate association between the polymorphisms and the SCA and severe score.

RESULTS

The genotypes C/C (IL18 -137G/C) and C/A (NLRP3, rs35829419) appear to be risk factors for SCA disease (IL18: G/G vs C/C OR=103.500 [95% CI: 8.32-1287.79, p<0.00001]; IL18: G/G vs G/C OR=7.360 [95% CI: 0.85-63.48, p=0.040]; IL18: G/G vs CC+CG OR=14.481 [95% CI: 1.79-117.32, p=0.002; NLRP3: C/C vs C/A: OR=10.967 [95% CI: 2.41-49.89, p=0.0004]). In addition, only allelic C (IL18 -137G/C) and A (NLRP3) appear to be risk factors for SCA disease (IL18: G vs C OR=6.366 [95% CI: 2.73-14.86, p<0.00001]; NLRP3: C vs A OR=8.383 [95% CI: 2.03-34.62, p=0.005]. No associations were observed between genotypes and alleles with the severity score.

CONCLUSION

Evidence of association between the IL18 (rs16944) and NLRP3 (rs35829419) polymorphisms with sickle cell anemia were described. Our results suggest that individuals with genotypes evaluated are associated SCA disease even though it does not influence the severe score.