Análise de polimorfismo na região promotora do gene da Interleucina 18 (-137 G/C e -607 C/A) em pacientes portadores do vírus da hepatite C de Belém, Pará

Abstract

Since its discovery in 1989, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Considered a public health problem worldwide involving between 170 to 350 million people infected. Host genetic factors have been implicated in the persistence of HCV infection. Studies suggest that two single nucleotide polymorphisms at position -607 C/A (rs1946518) and -137 G/C (rs187238) in the region of the gene IL-18 and have been found associated with the transcriptional promoter activity of IL -18, and potentially of IFN-γ, being associated with delayed viral clearance and persistence of the disease. We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study of the city of Belém-PA in 152 blood samples from patients infected with HCV and 188 uninfected controls. The samples were subjected to RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase - PCR) for detection of viral RNA and, subsequently, the PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) to evaluate the polymorphism in the promoter region of IL-18 gene at positions -137 G/C and -607 C/A. The results showed no significant difference for IL-18 polymorphisms between patients and control group. But showed a significant difference for homozygous genotypes G/G (39.1%) at position -137 (OR = 3.00, CI [95%] = 1.24 – 7.22, p = 0.02), and A/A (21.7 %), position -607 (OR = 3.62, CI [95%] = 1.25 – 10.45, p = 0.03) among women than men (22.6% and 7.6%). The results showed evidence that among women, the presence of the polymorphism homozygous A/A (-607) acts as a protective factor against HCV infection, genotype as the A/A (-607) have been linked in some studies with liver disease and mild viral clearance.