Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a global health problem which develops chronic hepatic diseases including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. IL28B polymorphisms rs12979860 CC genotype and low serum level of interleukin10 were associated to protect the patients of HCV infection and rapid virological response (RVR) in HCV patients treated for four weeks with pegIFNα/ribavirin (IFNα/RIB).
Subjects and methods: The study was carried out on 49 Egyptian HCV patients, Patients with other types of viral hepatitis, unfavourable haematological picture & decompensated liver function including cirrhosis and Autoimmune hepatitis were excluded. Patients who responsing to IFNα/RIB after four weeks were classified as RVR (n = 18) and Non-RVR (n = 31). IL28B polymorphisms at rs12979860, the resulting genotypes are CC, CT or TT, and Serum IL10 was measured by standard sandwich enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay technology for both groups.
Results: Il28B CC genotype was 67.4 % in responder group (RVR) 38.7% in non-responder group (non RVR) (p= 0.01), CC genotype with serum IL10 < 80 pg/mL was 72.2% in responder group and CT/TT with serum IL10 >80 pg/mL (p= 0.00).
Conclusion: the relationship of genotype CC of IL28B at rs12979869 and the effect of IFNα/RIB to maintain the serum level of IL10 decrease and to achieve better chances to cure the HCV patients from the virus.