HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION AND MUTATIONS OF MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN GENE MBL

We assessed the genetic polymorphism of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) i n 93 patients with chronic hepatitis C (45 responders and 48 nonrespon ders to interferon) and 218 healthy controls. Mutant allele was identi fied only at codon 54 (Gly --> Asp), leading to three genotypes (54 m/ m, 54 W/m, and 54 W/W). Frequency of 54 m/m was significantly lower in interferon-responders (2.2%), compared to those in nonresponders (14. 6%) and controls (10.6%): p<0.05. Our results suggest that homozygous carriage of the variant allele of codon 54 of MBL may predict poor res ponse to interferon in chronic hepatitis C patients.