OBJECTIVETo explore whether the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphisms are associated with the outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Chinese Han population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the polymorphisms of Fok I locus in exon 2 and Taq I locus in exon 9 of VDR gene. One hundred and eighty-four chronic hepatitis B patients and 205 asymptomatic HBV carriers were recruited to make the comparison of frequencies of genotype and haplotype of the VDR gene between the patients and the carriers.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed a significant difference in Fok I polymorphism between chronic hepatitis B patients group and asymptomatic HBV carriers group. The FF genotype frequency in chronic hepatitis B patients group was 44.6%,higher than 31.7% in asymptomatic HBV carriers group (P<0.05). After adjusting the confounders by multiple logistic regression analysis, the result still showed a significant difference in Fok I site polymorphism between chronic hepatitis B patients group and asymptomatic HBV carriers group (OR=1.95, P<0.05). The FT haplotype frequency in chronic hepatitis B patients group was higher than that in asymptomatic HBV carriers group (OR=1.45, P<0.05). The fT haplotype frequency in chronic hepatitis B patients group was lower than that in asymptomatic HBV carriers group (OR=0.72, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVDR gene polymorphism may be an influence factor of genetic susceptibility to HBV infection.