Association of polymorphisms in key Th-17 immune response genes with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B susceptibility and response to PEG-IFNa-2α

This study aims to investigate effects of polymorphisms in key Th-17 immune response genes on the susceptibility to HBeAg-positive (HBeAg+) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and response to PEG-IFNa-2α. A total of 139 patients with HBeAg+ CHB treated with PEG-IFNa-2α and 145 healthy controls were enrolled to explore the association between IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-23R polymorphisms and HBeAg+ CHB susceptibility, as well as treatment efficacies. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. IL-17A rs4711998 and IL-17F rs763780 may affect susceptibility to HBeAg+ CHB and response to PEG-IFNa-2α treatment. The T allele of IL-21 rs12508721 may lower HBeAg+ CHB susceptibility but enhance PEG-IFNa-2α response, and the GA genotype and the A allele of IL-23R rs11209026 may reduce the susceptibility to HBeAg+ CHB. Th17-related gene polymorphisms were linked to HBeAg+ CHB susceptibility, and rs4711998, rs763780 and rs12508721 were associated with sustained responses to PEG-IFNa-2α.