Association of programmed cell death-1 gene polymorphisms with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and antiviral effect

Objective To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms( SNPs) of programmed cell death- 1( PD- 1)gene with chronic hepatitis C virus( HCV) infection and the effect of antiviral therapy with interferon combined with ribavirin. Methods A total of 228 patients with chronic hepatitis C( CHC) who were hospitalized in seven hospitals in Hebei Province,China from October 2010 to October 2012 were enrolled and treated with interferon combined with ribavirin as the individualized antiviral therapy. Eighty- one persons who underwent physical examination were enrolled as control group. The Taq Man probe method was used to detect PD- 1 gene polymorphisms. The distribution of alleles and genotypes at PD- 1. 1 and PD- 1. 3 were compared between the two groups,and the association between the SNPs of PD- 1. 1 and PD- 1. 3 and anti- HCV effect was analyzed. The chi- square test was used for the comparison of categorical data between groups. Results The CHC group showed significantly higher frequencies of T allele and TT genotype at PD- 1. 1 than the control group( 52. 41% vs 43. 21%,χ2= 4. 059,P = 0. 044; 28. 51% vs 14. 81%,χ2= 6. 469,P = 0. 039). The SNPs of PD- 1. 1 gene were not significantly associated with complete early virologic response or sustained virologic response( both P > 0. 05). Both groups had CC genotype at PD- 1. 3. Conclusion PD- 1. 1 T allele might be associated with chronic HCV infection,and patients carrying TT genotype have a high risk of chronic HCV infection. PD- 1. 1 polymorphism is not associated with virologic response to anti- HCV therapy.