RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 SLC11A1 promoter gene polymorphisms and fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C
JF Gut
JO Gut
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
SP 446
OP 450
DO 10.1136/gut.2003.028274
VO 53
IS 3
A1 M Romero-Gómez
A1 M A Montes-Cano
A1 M A Otero-Fernández
A1 B Torres
A1 D Sánchez-Muñoz
A1 F Aguilar
A1 N Barroso
A1 L Gómez-Izquierdo
A1 V M Castellano-Megias
A1 A Núñez-Roldán
A1 J Aguilar-Reina
A1 M F González-Escribano
YR 2004
UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/53/3/446.abstract
AB Background and aims: The solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene (formerly Nramp1) encodes for the protein solute carrier family 11, member 1. It affects susceptibility and clinical outcome of autoimmune and infectious diseases. We investigated the possible role of the functional polymorphism located in the promoter region of SLC11A1 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) genes in the progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Methods: A total of 242 Caucasian Spanish patients with biopsy proven chronic hepatitis C and 194 healthy control subjects were genotyped for SLC11A1 and TNF promoter polymorphisms. Results: No significant differences in the distribution of frequencies among patient and control groups were observed. The SCL11A1 homozygous 2/2 genotype was rarely detected among patients showing advanced fibrosis (2/82; 2.4%) but was highly represented in those with mild fibrosis (29/160; 18.1%; odds ratio (OR) 8.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–55.2, pc = 0.002). In patients carrying allele 3 of SLC11A1, the presence of −238 TNF A/G was associated with advanced fibrosis (14/26 (53.8%) v 68/216 (31.4%); OR 2.53 (95% CI 1.03–6.23); p = 0.02). Conclusions: SLC11A1 gene promoter polymorphism could influence fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C in that the homozygous genotype 2/2 exerts a protective effect against cirrhosis development. Also, the combination of TNF −238 A/G and the presence of allele 3 is conducive to progression to pre-cirrhotic or cirrhotic stages of the disease.