Open AccessDistribution of HCV genotype and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL‐28B gene in HIV/HCV‐coinfected Thai populations
Author(s) -
Avihingsa A,
MekAnantawat W,
Apornpong T,
Akkarathamrongsin S,
Ubolyam S,
Chomhong P,
Tangkitvanich P
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the international aids society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.724
H-Index - 62
ISSN - 1758-2652
DOI - 10.7448/ias.15.6.18420
Subject(s) - genotype , virology , ns5b , pegylated interferon , hepatitis c virus , single nucleotide polymorphism , interleukin 28b , ribavirin , hepatitis c , medicine , population , polymerase chain reaction , biology , hepacivirus , gene , genetics , virus , environmental health
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major silent killer, worldwide, particularly in resource poor settings where treatment of hepatitis C is mainly impossible. Pegylated interferon‐α (PEG‐IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) are the recommended treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2/3. Recent study revealed that treatment responses against HCV infection by PEG‐IFN and RBV are significantly associated with the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin‐28B (IL‐28B) gene. There is limited data about the HCV genotype and SNPs of IL‐28B in HIV‐infected Thai population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate HCV genotype and the SNP patterns of the IL‐28B gene in our HIV/HCV coinfection. Methods Quantification of HCV RNA was done by a real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay (Abbott with lower limit of detection of <12 copies/ml). HCV RNA‐positive samples based on reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of the 5'UTR were amplified with primer specific for the core and NS5B regions. Nucleotide sequences of both regions were analyzed for the genotype by phylogenetic analysis. DNA sample was extracted from PBMCs or sera. Then SNPs within IL‐28B gene were detected by TaqMan real‐time PCR (rs8099917 and rs12979860). The data were analyzed by allelic discrimination (AD) software on the ABI‐7900HT. Results Totally 60 HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients were studied. Median HCV RNA were 5.8 log 10 copies/mL, 70% of them had HCV RNA >100,000 copies/mL. After sequencing, the phylogenetic analyses in this study showed that genotype 3 was the most prevalent in this population (56%); following by genotype 1 (30%) and 6 (13%). Approximately 4% of them had infected for both genotypes 1 and 3. For IL‐28B at rs8099917 and rs12979860 position, 95% of them were major allele (T/T or C/C) and 5% were heterozygous (T/G or C/T). Conclusions HCV genotype 3 is the most prevalent in our HIV/HCV coinfection. 95% of our patients have favorable IL‐28B gene. This data is useful for further chronic hepatitis C treatment in Thailand.