Polymorphism in IFNL3/IL28B gene and risk to non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 virus infection and its effect on the response to combined daclatasvir and sofosbuvir therapy.

Hepatitis C virus infection is a considerable public-health problem and an important cause of liver disease with about 71 million people infected worldwide and more than 399,000 people die every year from hepatitis C related liver diseases. The present study was therefore, initiated to investigate the association of polymorphism in interferon lamda-3 (IFNL3) also known as Interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene with chronic HCV infection and association of these polymorphic variants with the combination daclatasvir and sofosbuvir HCV therapy response. Genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay in a total of 250 chronic HCV genotype 3 patients and 500 number of healthy controls. Our data revealed that the TT (minor) genotype of IFNL3 (rs12979860) and GG (minor) genotype of IFNL3 (rs8099917) exhibited significant association with chronic HCV genotype 3 infection when compared with controls. The results of treatment response showed that CC (major) genotype of IFNL3 (rs12979860) and TT (major) genotype of IFNL3 (rs8099917) are associated with likelihood of achieving a higher sustained virological response (SVR), to combined daclatasvir and sofosbuvir therapy, in genotype 3 infected HCV patients, whereas the individuals with TT (minor) genotype of IFNL3 (rs12979860) and GG (minor) genotype of IFNL3 (rs8099917) are more susceptible to chronic HCV infection and treatment relapse, suggesting a role of IFNL3 (rs12979860) and (rs8099917) in the treatment outcome of combined daclatasvir and sofosbuvir therapy in chronic HCV genotype 3 infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.