A fast and cost-effective method for identifying a polymorphism of interleukin 28B related to hepatitis C

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 22;8(10):e78142. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078142. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Approximately 170 million people are chronic carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients with chronic hepatitis C are currently treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV). A genome-wide association with PEG-IFN/RBV treatment response and a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs12979860) has been identified near the interleukin 28B gene that encodes interferon-λ-3. In this paper, we describe an innovative, fast, and low-cost multiplex polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers that detects the rs12979860 polymorphism. The assay is internally controlled and does not require the use of restriction endonucleases or special equipment. Moreover, the assay decreases costs, being about 40% cheaper than direct sequencing methods.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / economics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Interferons
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / economics
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Interleukins
  • Interferons

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the Alves de Queiroz Family Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.