Investigation of interleukin-18 polymorphism in hepatit B virus carriers, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis patients -

Objective: IL-18 has been shown to play a protective role in the host defense towards different sources of infection or to have a pathological role in hepatitis B (HBV). Methods: For the purposes of this study, we analyzed IL-18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in hepatitis B virus carrier, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and non-infected individuals. Presence of the IL-18 genotyping was performed using the PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. Results: Significant associations were detected between the IL-18 rs187238 (G/C) polymorphism and infected patients. Conclusion: Based on our data, there were no significant associations between the IL-18 rs61667799(G/T), rs5744227(C/G), rs5744228(A/G) polymorphism in Turkish HBV infected and non-infected individuals with HBV.