Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Myxovirus Resistance-1 (MxA) Gene Promoter (G/T at NT-88) Correlated with the Response of Hepatitis C Patients to Interferon

Aim: To investigate the association between the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in -88 locus of myxovirus resistance-1 (MxA) gene promoter region and the treatment response to IFN-α. Methods: Genotypes of -88 (G/T) locus of the MxA promoter region was examined by the polymerase chain reaction in hundred Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C and sixty healthy controls. Results: The T-alleles of MxA-88 locus may be associated with the response to interferon. The frequency of the G/T genotype was significantly higher in the responder group of patients (63.50%) than in the non-responder group (21.60%). Conclusion: The results of the current work implied that heterozygosity for the -88 polymorphism of the MxA gene may be important host factors that influence the response to IFN-α therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection.