Background: It has been shown by recent studies that there is a significant association between genetic polymorphisms near the regulatory of IL28B gene and response to treatment in viral diseases such as hepatitis C. However, genetic factors involving in infection progression to chronic diseases have not been determined yet. In this study, the association of these IL28B polymorphisms with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis C virus infection has been analyzed.

Materials and methods: In this case- control study, 110 patients infected with chronic hepatitis C and 110 healthy individuals were studied. The fragments covering rs8099917 and rs12979860 were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism digestion (RFLP) method using NmuCI and BstUIendonuleases enzymes.

Results: Results showed that rs12979860CC genotype were the most frequent which followed by CT and TT. However, rs8099917TT was the dominant genotype. Allele frequencies were included: Rs8099917 T=72.3%, G=27.7% and rs12979860 C=69.5%, T=30.5% at patients and rs8099917 T=80%, G=20% and rs12979860 C=73.2%, T=26.8% at control group.

Conclusion: The Results showed that T allele is more prevalent than G at rs12979860 polymorphism and the frequency of C allele is higher than T at rs8099917 position. However, rs809917TT and rs12979860 CC genotypes are the most common genotypes among patients population with chronic hepatitis C.

Keywords: IL28B gene, Chronic hepatitis C infection, Genetic polymorphisms