Abstract: Objective Single nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs), close to the interleukin-28 ( IL-28B ) gene, have been associated with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus in acute hepatitis C patients in a heterogeneous population. The authors analyzed the association between IL-28B and spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in China. Methods A total of 122 HCV- infected persons were enrolled in the study. The rs12979860, rs8099917, rs10853728, rs12980275, rs4803219, rs4803223 and rs8105790 were detected by PCR and sequencing. They were compared between spontaneously cleared HCV and chronically infected group, and different level of HCV RNA in chronically infected patients. Results Patients who spontaneously cleared HCV were younger than chronically infected group;spontaneous clearance rate of rs12979860 genotype CC/CT, rs8099917 genotype TT/TG, rs10853728 genotype CC/CG, rs12980275 genotype AA/AG, rs4803219 genotype CC/CT, rs4803223 genotype AA/AG, rs8105790 genotype TT/TC were not significantly different (22.9% vs 7.7%, P=0.146; 22% vs 9.1%, P=0.279; 22.7% vs 14.9%, P=0.293; 22.7% vs 8.3%, P=0.196; 22.2% vs 8.7%, P=0.238; 16.7% vs 30.8%, P=0.109; 23.2% vs 7.4%, P=0.123). Conclusion No significant difference in IL-28B polymorphisms was found between the two groups. However,the age of infection was associated with spontaneous clearance.

Key words: IL-28B, hepatitis C virus, polymorphism