Investigation study of interferon gene polymorphisms in patients infected with Hepatitis C virus

Genetic variants in certain cytokines genes have the potential to affect the length of time an individual is infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the clinical result, the rate of HCV replication, and the severity of liver damage. The case-control study involved 50 patients with hepatitis C virus infection from Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in the Al-Muthanna Governorate and a control group consisting of 50 volunteers of the same age and gender. In order to determine the genotype of the IFN- γ gene polymorphism (+874), a particular sequence primer polymerase chain reaction was used (SSP-PCR). Following the manufacturer's instructions, ELISA and fully automated biochemical equipment were used to figure out how much IFN- γ was in each participant's plasma and to test their liver function. There was a statistically significant difference in the serum level of liver enzymes and bilirubin, in addition to the level of INF- γ in patients with hepatitis C virus compared to healthy controls, while there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender distribution. This study also found a higher prevalence of the TA/AT genotype in addition to the A allele of IFN- γ+874 polymorphisms in patients than it is in healthy people compared to other genotypes. On the other hand, the highest concentration of interferon-gamma was in patients who carried the TT genotype and the T allele. Our results showed that the TA/AT genotype and allele T of IFN- γ+874 polymorphisms have a clear relationship with infection and pathogenesis of hepatitis C. It was also discovered that patients with the TT genotype and allele T had higher IFN- serum levels than those with another genotype.