Role of OAS-1 and MxA Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility and Treatment of HCV Patients

Background: Response to IFN therapy in HCV infected patients differs among individuals, suggesting a role of host genetic factors. IFN stimulates the expression of a number of enzymes with antiviral activities, including OAS-1 gene and MxA gene. The SNP of OAS1 gene at exon 7-SAS and MxA SNP at nt-88 in the promoter region were found to affect the expression of both OAS-1 protein and MxA protein, respectively. In this study, relation between these SNPs with susceptibility to HCV infection and responsiveness of Egyptian HCV patients to PEG-IFN and ribavirin treatment along with other host-related factors was assessed. Methods: The MxA nt-88 SNP and the OAS-1 7-SAS SNP was genotyped by RFLP analysis in 120 interferon treatment-naïve Egyptian patients who were treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin and 40 healthy control volunteers. Correlations of SNP genotypes with response to interferon and clinical status of patients were statistically analyzed. Also correlation of these SNPs and susceptibility to HCV infection was assessed. Results: OAS-1GG, MxAGT genotypes appeared to be risk factor for protection against chronic HCV infection. On the other hand, OAS-1AA genotype and OAS-1A allele appeared to be risk factor for chronic infection with HCV. In addition,OAS-1AA genotype appeared to be risk factor for NR. On the other hand, OAS-1AG, MxATT genotypes and MxA T allele appeared to be protective against NR. Conclusions: Subsequently, it was concluded that OAS-1 and MxA genetic polymorphisms might be considered as biological markers to identify susceptibility and treatment response to HCV infection.