Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Gene Polymorphisms and Hepatitis B Virus Infection

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an apoptotic molecule with a key role in the apoptosis of tumors and virus-infected cells. The association of 1525G/A and 1595C/T polymorphisms in the region of 3’ UTR on the TRAIL gene has been shown in many cancers and diseases. Polymorphism at the positions of 1525G/A and 1595C/T might influence the clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV). OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine the role of the TRAIL gene polymorphisms in clinical outcome of HBV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) was applied to genotype TRAIL polymorphisms at positions 1525G/A and 1595C/T. To evaluate the TRAIL gene polymorphism in the 3’ UTR region at position 1525G/A and 1595C/T, 147 patients with HBV infection were divided into three different groups of chronic hepatitis (n = 52), cirrhosis (n = 33), and carrier (n = 62) and there was a group of 101 healthy controls. RESULTS: Our data showed that genotypes 1525G/A and 1595C/T were in complete linkage disequilibrium and the genotype frequencies at the two positions were the same. No significant differences in frequencies of genotype and alleles at positions 1525G/A and 1595C/T were observed between all the three groups (P value > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to our result, 1525G/A and 1595C/T were in strong linkage disequilibrium and the polymorphisms of the TRAIL gene in the 3’ UTR region were not associated with the outcome of HBV infection.