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ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN POLYMORPHISMS OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-, INTERLEUKIN-10, AND TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-ß1 GENES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

Ethnic differences in the outcome of hepatitis C have been described. Our aim was to investigate ethnic differences in the distribution of genotypes associated with polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor- promoter, interleukin-10 promoter, and transforming growth factor-ß1 leader sequence in patients with hepatitis C. Genomic DNA was obtained from 71 Egyptians and 67 Caucasians (hepatitis C and control patients). Amplification of appropriate gene segments was followed by direct sequencing. Infrequently occurring polymorphisms were identified at positions –244 and –77 of the tumor necrosis factor- promoter and at positions –851 and –657 of the interlukin-10 promoter. The G/A genotype associated with tumor necrosis factor- promoter positions –376 and –244 was more frequent in Egyptians (P =0.001 and P =0.004, respectively). The –244 G/A genotype occurred only in healthy Egyptians (P =0.024). Thus, ethnic differences in the distribution of genotypes of the tumor necrosis factor- promoter exist, which may have clinical implications on the outcome of hepatitis C.

Received December 23, 2002. Accepted for publication March 13, 2003.

Financial support: This study was supported in part by a grant from the American Liver Foundation/Liver Scholar Award to Nizar N. Zein. Pedro G. Vidigal is a scholar of the Tropical Medicine PostGraduation Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil), and was supported by the CAPES Foundation (Brasilia, Brazil).

Authors’ addresses: Nizar N. Zein, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Internal Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195. Jeffrey J. Germer, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905. Abdel R. El-Zayadi, Cairo Liver Center, Cairo, Egypt. Pedro G. Vidigal, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Reprint requests: Nizar N. Zein, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Internal Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, Telephone: 216-444-6126, Fax: 216-445-5477, E-mail: zeinn{at}ccf.org.