Relationship between estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms at position 29 and outcome of hepatitis B virus infection among population in Gansu, China

Objective To investigate the relationship between estrogen receptor alpha ( ERα) gene polymorphisms at position 29 and the outcome of hepatitis B virus ( HBV) infection among the population in Gansu, China, and to explore the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) at the genetic level. Methods A total of 102 patients with CHB and 106 patients who recovered from HBV infection were included in the study. The ERα gene polymorphisms at position 29 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allele frequency was calculated by the gene counting method, and the Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium test was performed. Confounding factors were subjected to unconditional logistic regression analysis. Comparisons of genotype frequency and allele frequency were made by chi- square test ( R × C) . Results The frequencies of TT genotype and T allele of ERα gene polymorphisms at position 29 were significantly higher in the CHB patients than in the patients in the recovery period of HBV infection ( 62. 7% vs 48. 1%, χ2= 4. 502, P < 0. 05; 82. 4% vs 69. 8%, χ2= 4. 478, P < 0. 05) , while the frequencies of CC genotype and C allele were significantly lower in the former than in the latter ( 12. 8% vs 19. 8%, χ2= 27. 219, P < 0. 05; 17. 6% vs 30. 2%, χ2= 4. 478, P < 0. 05) . The risk of chronic HBV infection in patients with T allele was 2. 018 times that in patients with C allele ( OR = 2. 018, CI = 1. 047- 3. 891) . Conclusion The ERα gene with TT genotype at position 29 might be the susceptibility gene for chronic HBV infection.