Abstract: Objective To identify the host single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) of the MxA promoter 88 site and predict interferon response in hepatitis B patients.Methods 262 chronic hepatitis B patients were treated with α-IFN for 1 year.Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the MxA promoter-88 site were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and were compared with the responsiveness of hepatitis B patients to IFN.Results 212 cases were no sustained response(NSR);50 with sustained response(SR).The SNP of MxA promoter-88 was found having a significant difference in the genotypic frequency distribution between SR and NSR patients.The rate of GT heterozygote was 50.0% in SR and 17.5% in NSR,P<0.01.Conclusion Patients with GT genotype at MxA promoter-88 responds well to IFN treatment.

Key words: chronic hepatitis B, MxA, interferon, single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)