Evaluation of the significance of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ABCB11 gene as biomarkers of hepatological complications in Epstein-Barr virus infection in children.

Abstract

Aim of the study: To evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette subfamily B member 11 (ABCB11) gene, rs11568364 and rs2287622, as potential predictors of hepatologic complications during Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection among children.

Material and methods: The study group consisted of 54 children aged 1 to 18 years hospitalised from 01.12.2018 to 31.12.2020 in the Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Hepatology with hepatological complications in the course of serologically and molecularly confirmed EBV infection. Real-time PCR using TaqMan probes was used to determine single-nucleotide variability in the ABCB11 gene.

Results: It was found that the presence of the T allele for the rs2287622 marker increases the probability of hepatitis three times and the possibility of hepatitis with cholestasis almost four times in EBV-infected patients.

Conclusions: The rs2287622 polymorphism of the ABCB11 gene appears to have an impact on the occurrence of hepatological complications in the course of EBV infection in children.