Polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor–α and interleukin-10 gene promoter region in chronic hepatitis C virus patients and their effect on pegylated interferon–α therapy response

The development and resolution of an inflammatory process is regulated by a complex interplay among cytokines that have pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Regulatory mechanisms that control the production of cytokines include genetic polymorphism in particular promoter/leader region. Polymorphisms may directly or indirectly affect the binding of transcriptional factors, consequently increasing or decreasing the production of mRNA, thus regulating cytokine production. A total of 70 hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA–positive patients and 70 healthy control subjects were included in the present study, who were attending the medical outpatient department (OPD) and wards of a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi during 2006–2008. This study was designed to determine the polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor–α and interleukin-10 genes in patients with chronic HCV infection patients and their effect on pegylated interferon–α therapy response. Polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor–α G/G, G/A, and A/A genotype was significant between HCV patients and healthy controls. Interleukin-10 variants (G/G, G/A) were nonsignificant among HCV patients compared with healthy controls. As this is a preliminary study on small sample size, we believe that our findings may stimulate further studies on larger number of patients from this geographic region.