Influence of PON1 gene polymorphisms (rs662 and rs854560) on the chronicity of HBV infection

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a major health problem in Turkey as it is all over the world. Therefore, it is noteworthy to understand the genetic background of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infection. In order to investigate the effect of the PON1 gene in different clinical conditions of HBV infection, we analyzed common Q192R (rs662) and L55M (rs854560) polymorphisms in HBV-infected individuals through PCR and RFLP technics. The present study involved 59 HBV carriers (chronic inactive hepatitis B patients) and 60 chronic active hepatitis B patients. The chisquare test was used to compare allele and genotype frequencies of chronic active hepatitis patients and HBV carriers. Any statistically significant diversity was not observed between HBV carriers and chronic active hepatitis B patients according to genotype and allele frequencies of PON1 gene polymorphisms. However, chronic active hepatitis patients and HBV carriers showed statistically significant diversities in terms of combined genotypes of Q192R and L55M polymorphisms. According to results of our study, a possible relationship could be suggested between combined genotypes of Q192R and L55M polymorphisms of PON1 gene and chronicity of HBV infection in Turkish population.