Association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with active chronic HBV infection

Interleukin-32 (IL-32), a multiple proinflammatory cytokine, plays a vital role in immune-related diseases and infectious diseases. The promoter region of IL-32, which showed functional polymorphism, could regulate IL-32 expression. Although IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism has been related to a lot of inflammatory diseases, the association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection has not been reported. In the present study, IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism was genotyped in 104 chronic HBV carriers and 151 active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The frequency of IL-32 T/T genotype in patients with active CHB was significantly higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Furthermore, the frequency of the T allele at IL-32 rs28372698 in active CHB patients was also higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. The serum level of IL-32 in active CHB patients was higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Our results imply that IL-32 T/T polymorphism might be associated with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection.