Abstract

THE TGF ?1 509 C/T GENE POLYMORPHISM IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HCV ANTIBODY POSITIVE PATIENTS AND ITS RELATION TO HCV VIRAL LOAD

Mervat El Ansary, Aya Nasef  , Hanan Abdel Haleem, *Hanan Abdel Hafez,Walaa Abd El Fattah

ABSTRACT

and aim: Hepatitis C virus is a significant health problem in Egypt as its prevalence is about of 14.9%. Many genetic factors influence the natural course of chronic hepatitis C. Transforming growth factor-β is a potent well-known suppressor of NK cells that inhibits IFN-γ and IL-12 production and blocks the proliferation and cytotoxicity of NK cells. The 509C/T mutation in the TGF-β1 gene is associated with promoter activity and with the natural clearance of HCV. Moreover, TGFβ1 is the strongest known inducer of fibrogenesis in the effectors cells of hepatic fibrosis. We aimed in thisstudy to determine the TGF β1 509 C/T gene polymorphism by PCR- RFLP technique in chronic HCV patients and its relation to HCV viral load and the stage of hepatic fibrosis. Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients with +ve HCV, confirmed by the HCVAb presence by ELISA and by PCR and they were designed as group I. Group II: Included 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. Thorough clinical and laboratory assessments were done for all the participants in the study. PCR-RFLP for polymorphism of TGF β1509 was carried out for all subjects. Assessment of the stage of hepatic fibrosis was done for diseased group by analyzing results of Fibroscan for some patients and Actitest-Fibrotest for others. Informed consents were obtained. Results: There were a statistically significant relation between the TGF β1 509 T/C gene polymorphism in chronic HCV +ve patients and HCV viral load. The wild genotype CC and The C allele of TGF β1 509 was significantly higher in subjects with low HCV viral load compared with moderate to high viral load. There is no relation between the polymorphism of TGF β1 509 and the stage of hepatic fibrosis. Conclusion: The wild genotype CC and The C allele of TGF β1 509 was significantly higher in subjects with low HCV viral load compared with moderate to high viral load. There is no relation between the polymorphism of TGF β1 509 and the stage of hepatic fibrosis.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus-Transforming growth factor beta -Viral load -Hepatic fibrosis.