Interleukin-28B rs12979860 C/T Polymorphism and Acute Cellular Rejection after Liver Transplantation

Background: Interleukin-28 (IL-28B) rs12979860 C/T polymorphism is a known predictor of sustained virological response after antiviral treatment in hepatitis C. IL-28B affects the innate immune system as well as intrahepatic expression level of interferon-stimulated genes. Objective: To investigate the effect of recipient IL-28B polymorphism on occurrence of acute rejection after liver transplantation. Methods: 140 liver allograft recipients were selected. Acute rejection episodes were recorded in 39 patients (AR group); the remaining had normal graft function (non-AR group). 70 normal subjects were also studied as the control group. The IL-28B rs12979860 was genotyped through PCR-RFLP method. Results: No significant difference was found between AR and non-AR groups in terms of genotype and allele frequency. However, the CC genotype was significantly (p<0.001) more frequent in patients than in the control group; the C allele variants increased the risk of end-stage liver disease (OR: 2.60). Conclusion: Liver damage in association with the carriage of IL-28B C allele is associated with a higher likelihood of developing cirrhosis.