Analysis of interferon gene polymorphism in patients with HDV infection in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The aim of the research: to analyze the frequency of occurrence of polymorphisms rs8105790 of the IFNL3 gene, rs368234815 of the IFNL4 gene, rs1831583 of the IFNA1 gene in healthy people and patients with chronic viral hepatitis D among the ethnic group of Yakuts living on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Materials and methods of the study: to study gene polymorphisms in 157 individuals with chronic HDV infection and 160 apparently healthy individuals was used polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Analysis of the results included compliance with the Hardy-Weinberg law, Pearson's chisquared test (χ2), odds ratio and its confidence interval.

Results: the people of young working age suffer more from HDV infection, wherein the development of cirrhosis from the moment of infection with the D virus is formed on average over 6.5 years. The high replicative activity of the HDV virus in 74.1% of cases is accompanied by suppression of HBV, but with an increase in the severity of fibrosis and the formation of cirrhosis and liver cancer, there is observed simultaneous replication of hepatitis B and D viruses. According to the data obtained, the risk of developing severe fibrosis in HDV is 1.7 times higher in carriers of the ΔG-allele of the rs368234815 polymorphism of the IFNL4 gene (OR=1.784; 95% CI 0.642–4.959) and 1.8 times higher in the carriers of the C-allele of the rs1831583 polymorphism of the IFNA1 gene (OR= 1.818; 95% CI 0.340–9.713).

Conclusion: the obtained results demonstrate that the C-allele rs1831583 of the IFNA1 gene and the ΔG-allele rs368234815 of the IFNL4 gene predispose to the formation of severe fibrosis in HDV infection, Yakutia. Keywords: chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gene polymorphism, HDV, IFNL3, IFNL4, IFNA1.

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