Study of IL28B gene variation as a predictor of response to directly acting antiviral therapy in hepatic transplantation hepatitis C Egyptian patients

Background IL28B gene polymorphisms are associated with the response to antiviral therapy in hepatitis C patients in the non-transplant setting. Objective To determine the prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes of donor and recipient IL28B genotypes among liver transplant recipients receiving directly acting antiviral therapy compared to those of HCV non-transplant patients. Patient and Methods This study included 60 patients divided into 2 groups: group 1 included 30 patients subjected to living donor liver transplantation and group 2 included 30 patients of HCV infection. Each group was subdivided into group A and group B according to the regimen of directly acting antiviral therapy (sofosbuvir-ledibasvir, sofosbuvir-daclatasvir). Liver transplantation was done between January 2016 and April 2018. Genotyping of the polymorphism was performed on DNA collected from all donors and recipients in group 1 before and after liver transplantation and also collected from all patients of group 2. Sustained virological response was found in 28 patients in group 1 (transplanted group) and 29 patients in group 2 (non-transplanted group) with no significant difference. Results No significant difference also was found in both groups according to the type of regimen. Also the type of genotype CC, CT and TT of IL28B in donors and recipients were not significantly associated or affecting the results of SVR in both groups of patients. Conclusion Our results support no role of recipient IL28B genotype in the response to directly acting antiviral drugs for hepatitis C recurrence. Interestingly, donor genotype seems not to influence the response pattern in recipients who have different IL28B genotype.

IL28B Genetic Variations in Patients with Recurrent Herpes Simplex Keratitis

Background and objectives: Recurrent herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is the most common cause of corneal blindness in the developed world. A relationship between host gene polymorphisms and the recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection has previously been proposed. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate a potential association between the IL28B host genotype and recurrent HSK. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients older than 18 years of age of both genders with a history of recurrent herpes simplex labialis (HSL) were considered for inclusion. Seventy-five of these patients were found to be seropositive for HSV-1 and were subsequently enrolled in the study. Twenty-four of the enrolled patients also had a history of recurrent HSK associated with severe corneal scarring and visual acuity deterioration. Total DNA was isolated from whole blood samples. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 near the IL28B gene on chromosome 19 was genotyped. Results: A significant association was observed between recurrent HSK and two SNPs of the IL28B genotype (CCrs12979860 and CTrs12979860, p < 0.01). The variation CCrs12979860 showed a significantly greater association with HSK (16 out of 26 patients) compared with CTrs12979860 (8 out of 34 patients). Conclusion: Seropositive individuals with a history of recurrent HSK are likely to have the CC IL28B genotype. This genotype may be related to incomplete control of the infection and more frequent periodical viral shedding along the first nerve branch of the trigeminal ganglion, which clinically manifests as recurrent herpes keratitis. The clinical manifestation of recurrent HSV-1 infection seems to be influenced by polymorphism of the IL28B genotype.

Elevated serum levels of adiponectin and interlukin-28B after IFN/RIB therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Introduction: The interleukin 28B (IL28B) genotype is associated with changes of lipid metabolism in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The association of steatosis with serum levels of adiponectin in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients has also been documented. This study aimed for the evaluation of serum levels of IL28B and adiponectin as well as the association of IL28B SNPs with different clinicopathological parameters in HCV-infected patients. Methodology: All 142 HCV-infected patients received peg-interferon plus ribavirin. Detection of rs8099917 and rs12979860 IL-28B genotypes was done with specific primers. Serum IL28 and adiponectin levels were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Results: Higher levels of both IL28 and adiponectin were found in patients. In Genotype 3a (G3a) -infected patients, IL28 and adiponectin serum levels were significantly higher than those infected with G1a. A correlation was found between increasing levels of AST and ALT in G3a-infected patients and the decrease in IL28 and adiponectin serum levels, respectively, in contrast to G1a-infected patients. Higher levels of both IL28 and adiponectin were associated with both CT allele of rs12979860 and TT allele of rs8099917 in patients in comparison with corresponding alleles in controls. Conclusions: In contrast to other studies, this study showed higher serum adiponectin levels in HCV-infected patients compared to that in healthy controls. This finding is possibly due to adiponectin resistance caused by down-regulation of adiponectin receptors or tumorigenic effects of adiponectin. Our genotype-based analyses revealed, at least in part, the involvement of the viral factors in the outcome of HCV infection.