A tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction for the detection of rs8099917 IL28B genotype

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP, rs8099917, rs12979860) near the IL28B gene have been illustrated as outcome predictors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. The aim of the present study was to design a simple tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) for the evaluation of the rs8099917 IL28B gene polymorphism. We efficiently designed a T-ARMS-PCR for detection of rs8099917 IL28B. Using this method, we genotyped 83 subjects with NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and 93 healthy subjects. No significant differences were found in allelic and genotypic frequencies of rs8099917 IL28B gene polymorphism between NAFLD subjects and controls. The frequency of minor allele (G allele) was 0.13 in healthy and 0.19 in NAFLD subjects. In conclusion, we designed a simple, inexpensive, and reproducible T-ARMS-PCR for detection of rs8099917 IL28B polymorphism which can be used for routine assay. In addition, we found that rs8099917 polymorphism is not a risk factor for predisposition to NAFLD in a sample of Iranian population. Larger studies with different ethnics are required to validate our findings.