Association of IL28B Polymorphism with Fibrosis, Liver Inflammation, Gender Respective Natural History of Hepatitis C Virus in Egyptian Patients with Genotype 4

The polymorphism of interleukin 28B (IL28B) rs12979860 is associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced clearance in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 (G4). However, there is no information on its interaction with gender, moreover its association with intrahepatic inflammation in North Africans is not studied and its association with fibrosis in North Africans (especially Egyptians) is controversial. This study aims to explore the association between the minor allele of the IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism with gender, fibrosis and necroinflammation in Egyptian G4 HCV patients. IL28B rs12979860 was genotyped in 224 individuals, including 100 healthy controls and 124 consecutive patients with chronic HCV. Results showed (1) IL28B rs12979860 minor alleles associated with susceptibity to chronic HCV mainly in men not women, (2) no association between IL28B rs12979860 with fibrosis and necroinflammation activity, (3) the IL28B rs12979860 TT genotype associated with severe fibrosis in women only and with the necroinflammation activity in men using a recessive model. In conclusion, the IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism is not associated with fibrosis and liver inflammation in Egyptian HCV G4. Nonetheless, the TT genotype of IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism affects the natural history of each gender independently.