Study On The Relationship Between The Variation Of DC-SIGN Promoter And HBV Infection

Objective To investigate whether there are gene mutations in Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhension molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) promoter of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and persons who were ever infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) for exploring the relationship between the mutation of DC-SIGN promoter and chronic HBV infection.Methods The gene of DC-SIGN promoter was examined in 67 serum samples which were from 47 CHB patients, 20 persons who were ever infected with HBV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and heteroduplex analysis (HA). The DC-SIGN promoter with potentially important mutations from serum samples were cloned, sequenced and aligned with the published DC-SIGN promoter sequence.Results The gene mutations of DC-SIGN promoter were found in both CHB patients and persons who were ever infected with HBV, but there were some difference. The hot spot mutations of DC-SIGN promoter in CHB patients were located in position—139,—142,—222 and—336, and mutation rate at position—139 was 33.33%(2/6), others were 16.67%(1/6). There was only one hot spot mutation in position—139 of DC-SIGN promoter in persons who were ever infected with HBV, and the mutation rate was 100 %(5/5). The haplotype containing protective variation (—139T,—336T) was found in all persons who were ever infected with HBV and 33.33 % CHB patients. Other haplotype containing risk variation (—139C,—336C) was found in 16.67% CHB patients but not in persons who were ever infected with HBV. Another haplotype containing—139C and—336T was found only in CHB patients.Conclusion We found the gene mutations of DC-SIGN promoter were—139C/T,—142T/C,—222T/C and—336T/C. The predominant genotype of DC-SIGN promoter is—139C in CHB patients but—139T in persons who were ever infected with HBV. The—139T mutation of DC-SIGN promoter may protect people from CHB.