1.Interferon-γ inducible protein-10 and interleukin 28B gene polymorphism as predictive markers for genotype 4 hepatitis C virus treatment response
Abd El-maksoud, E.A. ; Salem, A.M. ; Maher, A.M. ; Hegazy, M.G.A.
Tropical Biomedicine 2020;37(No.4):1083-1092
HCV genotype 4 dominates the HCV epidemic in Egypt. Drug resistance was the
most serious side effect that reflects bad clinical outcome. Several studies had demonstrated
that baseline serum interferon-γ-inducible-protein 10 (IP-10) levels and interleukin 28B
polymorphisms were associated with the resistance to the standard of care pegylated
interferon alpha and ribavirin (PEG-IFNα/RBV) therapy and development of post-treatment
relapse. Our purpose was to assess the predictive value of combining IP-10 levels and IL28B
genotypes to PEG-IFNα/RBV therapy response in Egyptian chronic HCV infection patients
with genotype 4. Ninety Egyptian patients chronically infected by HCV genotype-4 treated
with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (PEG-IFNα/RBV) therapy were enrolled. Serum
IP-10 levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay pre- and post- treatment.
IL-28B (rs12979860 and rs8099917) polymorphisms were performed by PCR-RFLP in all patients.
Overall, 38 patients (42.2%) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) and 52 (57.8%)
patients have non-viral response (NVR). Pretreatment serum IP-10 mean levels were
significantly lower in patients who achieved SVR than in NVR (P<0.05). CC genotype in IL28B polymorphism (rs12979860) was the favorable genotype as 65.8% achieved SVR, while
TT genotype in IL-28B polymorphism (rs8099917) was the favorable genotype as 81.5%
achieved SVR. Baseline IP-10 was significantly correlated to genotypes CC in rs12979860
and TT in rs8099917. Combined use of serum baseline IP-10 levels with IL-28B polymorphisms
could improve the prediction of SVR to PEG-IFNα/RBV therapy in Egyptian chronic HCV
infection patients with genotype 4.