The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) +874T allele reduces the risk of hepatitis B infection in an Asian population

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 281 - 287
• Main Authors: Sun, X.-R., Wu, J., Tang, K.-F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Alleles; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Case-Control Studies; chronic hepatitis B; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Hepatitis B virus - physiology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - ethnology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - genetics; Hepatitis B, Chronic - virology; Humans; IFN-gamma gene; Interferon-gamma - genetics; meta-analysis; polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk; chronic hepatitis B; meta-analysis; polymorphism; IFN-gamma gene
• ISSN: 1352-0504; 1365-2893
• DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12140

Summary Increasing evidence suggests that polymorphism of the interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) gene in the first intron at position +874 may be associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and/or HBV clearance. However, the results of relevant studies have been inconsistent. To derive a more precise estimation of the association, we performed a meta‐analysis. In total, 10 independent studies including 1661 chronic HBV‐infected patients and 1142 controls were included in this meta‐analysis. In studies following Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), a significantly decreased risk of chronic HBV infection was associated with the IFN‐γ + 874TT genotype in the overall population (TT vs AA: odds ratio (OR) = 0.714, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.526–0.969, P = 0.031) when compared with a spontaneously recovered population. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed a similar association in Asian individuals (TT vs AA: OR = 0.706, 95% CI = 0.518–0.962, P = 0.028). Moreover, when compared with a healthy control group, the 874T allele was associated with a significant lower risk of chronic HBV infection in the overall populations (TA vs AA: OR = 0.439, 95% CI = 0.193–0.997, P = 0.049; TT + TA vs AA: OR = 0.475, 95% CI = 0.271–0.832, P = 0.009) and in Asian individuals (TA vs AA: OR = 0.862, 95% CI = 0.744–0.999, P = 0.048). In conclusion, the IFN‐γ + 874TT genotype and 874T allele reduce the risk of chronic HBV infection in Asian individuals.