Mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Background: Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to live r cirrhosis (LC) and often to Liver cancer. Little is known about host fact ors that determine the variable natural history. Mannose-binding lectin (MB L) is an important constituent of the innate immune system. In white patien ts there is an association between codon 52 mutation of the MBL gene and pe rsistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To determine whether MBL gene p olymorphisms affect the course of HCV infection, we investigated the associ ation between MBL gene polymorphisms and HCV infection in Japanese subjects . Methods: Fifty-two HCV-infected Japanese patients (8 with chronic inactiv e hepatitis (CIH), 31 with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 13 with LC) and 50 normal controls were studied. MBL gene mutations were determined by mean s of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Results: Codon 52 and codon 57 mutations were absent in all subj ects. Homozygous mutation in codon 54 was present in one (0.9%) patient. He terozygous codon 54 mutation was present in 17 (32%) of the 52 patients and in 21 (41%) of the controls. No significant difference in the frequency of codon 54 mutation was observed between patient and control groups. However , although no significant relationship was observed between MBL polymorphis ms and the levels of HCV RNA, all patients with heterozygous or homozygous codon 54 mutations had CAH or LC. In contrast, 8 of the 34 patients without codon 54 mutation remained at CIH. (P = 0.0405). Conclusion: MBL may be on e of the factors that influence the course of HCV infection.