Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Myxovirus Resistance-1 (MxA) Gene Promoter (C/A at NT- 123) Correlated with the Response of Hepatitis C Patients to Interferon

Aim: To investigate the association between the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in –123 loci of myxovirus resistance-1 (MxA) gene promoter region and the treatment response to IFN-α. Methods: Genotypes of –123 (C/A) locus of the MxA promoter region was examined by the polymerase chain reaction in hundred Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis cand sixty healthy controls. Results: The A-alleles of MxA –123 locus may be asso-ciated with the response to interferon. The frequency of C/A genotype was significantly higher in the responder group of patients (49.20%) than in the non-responder group (29.70%). Conclusion: The results of the current work implied that heterozygosity for –123 polymorphisms of the MxA gene may be important host factors that influence the response to IFN-α therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection.