0fd314f6-7135-4bdb-9081-677078279396
title
Ethnic differences in polymorphisms of  tumor necrosis factor-alpha ,  interleukin-10 , and  transforming growth factor-beta1  genes in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
2cda5432-1431-405e-9eee-1a6c8e9055cc
abstract
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-alpha  promoter,  interleukin-10  promoter, and  transforming growth factor-beta1  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-alpha  promoter and at positions -851 and -657 of the  interleukin-10  promoter. The  G/A genotype associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha 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-alpha  promoter exist, which may have clinical implications on the outcome of hepatitis C.