ABSTRACT
Detection of the SNPs (Single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the promoter region (-88,-123) of the MxA in the blood of chronic liver disease patients under treatment with interferon was investigated. The association between these polymorphisms and the response to IFN-α therapy was conducted on 125 HCV-infected Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C and 20 individuals with healthy livers (controls). Quantitation for HCV was performed using PCR for all patients to detect the viral load. MxA (positions -88 and -123) genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. Detection of HCV-specific antibodies in the patients serum were done using ELISA techniques. A significant difference in the frequencies of distribution of MxA promoter genotypes in responders as compared to non-responders was recorded. The frequency of the homozygous GG genotype was significantly higher in non-responders in comparison with responders; while the heterozygous GT genotype was highly significant in responders in relation to non-responders. Furthermore, sustained responders had the mutant T allele more frequently than non-responders with a statistical significance. According to position –123, Inheritance of the heterozygous CA genotype was significantly associated with responders to therapy. Moreover, the presence of the A allele was significantly correlated with response to IFN-α treatment.