Gut Liver.  2014 Nov;8(6):655-661. 10.5009/gnl13374.

A Polymorphism in the Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Can Predict the Response to Antiviral Therapy in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 Infection

• Saad Y
• Shaker O
• Nassar Y
• Ahmad L
• Said M
• Esmat G

• KMID: 2070084
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl13374

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
A polymorphism in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is associated with hepatic fibrosis, and carriers showed higher levels of steatosis, higher levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and advanced fibrosis. The aim of this study was to study MTP expression pattern in HCV patients and impact of the MTP polymorphism on the response to antiviral therapy.
METHODS
One hundred consecutive naive HCV genotype 4 patients were recruited to receive antiviral therapy, and 40 control subjects were also recruited. Demographic, laboratory, and histopathology data were collected. DNA was isolated, and the samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction analysis and genotyping for MTP by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.
RESULTS
Patients and controls were age- and sex-matched (male/female, 56/44, age, 39.2+/-7.8 years for patients with HCV; male/female, 18/22, age, 38.1+/-8.1 years for controls). MTP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (GG, GT, TT) and alleles (G, T) in the patients versus the controls were 70%, 21%, 9% & 80.5%, 19.5% versus 10%, 87.5%, 2.5% & 53.8%, 46.3%, respectively (p=0.0001). The sustained viral response (SVR) of the patients was 60%. SNPs in MTP genotypes (GG, GT, and TT) and alleles (G and T) in the responders and nonresponders were 71.7%, 25%, 3.3% & 84.2%, 15.8% versus 67.5%, 15%, 17.5% & 75%, 25% (p=0.038 and p=0.109, respectively). A multivariate analysis showed that the GT genotype was an independent predictor of SVR (area under the curve 90% and p=0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
MTP could be a new predictor for SVR to antiviral therapy in patients with HCV genotype 4 infection.

Keyword

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein polymorphism; Hepatitis C virus; Predictor; Response

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use
Carrier Proteins/*genetics
Case-Control Studies
Egypt
Female
Genotype
Hepacivirus/genetics
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy/genetics
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
RNA, Viral/blood
Treatment Outcome
Viral Load
Antiviral Agents
Carrier Proteins
RNA, Viral