We performed a genome-wide association study to discover single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the serum levels of ALT
among chronic hepatitis C patients without treatment experience. SB203580 datasheet Methods: A total of 808 anti-HCV-seropositive and HBsAg-seronegative participants were recruited during 1991-1992. All of them were free of hepatocellular carcinoma cases during the follow-up year of 1991-2008. The serum samples were collected at the enrollment for the test of serum levels of ALT. We applied the AxiomTM Genome-Wide CHB Array, a recently developed tool specifically on Chinese Han population that provides maximum power for GWAS and has capability for genomic researchers to identify trait-associated SNPs in the Han Chinese. The serum levels of ALT was served as a quantitative trait in the analyses to test the association for each SNP. The significant p value was set as 8.1 ×l O-8 by Bonferroni correction. The log10 transformed serum levels of ALT by various genotypes at each SNP were tested by t-test or ANOVA test. The logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals
(95% CIs) of the potential SNPs associated with serum levels of ALT. Results: There were 372 (46.0%) with serum levels of ALT≤15 U/L, 320 (39.6%) 16-45 U/L, and 116 (14.4%) >45 U/L among PS-341 ic50 the asymptomatic HCV infected participants. The means and standard deviation of the serum levels of ALT were 28.3±37.6. In total, 613,774 SNPs with call rate >95%, minor allele frequency >0.01, were included in the analyses. We found 6 SNPs potentially associated with the serum levels of ALT. These SNPs were located on the chromosome 2,5,7,1 Succinyl-CoA 0 and
21. The mean values of serum levels of ALT had significant differences by various genotypes at each SNP (p<0.001). The serum levels of ALT was categorized as normal and abnormal with the cut-off of 45 U/L. The odds ratios for the SNPs ranged from 1.8 to 3.1 associated with abnormal serum levels of ALT. Conclusion: There were SNPs identified to be potentially associated with serum levels of ALT, a seromarker of inflammatory response, in chronic hepatitis C patients. However, these SNPs should be validated by an independent external population and functional studies would be needed. Disclosures: Yong Yuan – Employment: Bristol Myers Squibb Company Gilbert L’Italien – Employment: Bristol Myers Squibb; Stock Shareholder: Bristol Myers Squibb The following people have nothing to disclose: Mei-Hsuan Lee, Hwai-I Yang, Sheng-Nan Lu, Yu-Ju Lin, Pao-Jen Liu, Yu-Chuan Chien, Chin-Lan Jen, San-Lin You, Li-Yu Wang, Chien-Jen Chen Introduction. HCV antibody tests (anti-HCV) are commonly used as a qualitative measure for past or present HCV infection and are not used for detection of HCV reinfection, because one will remain antibody positive after exposure. Recently, a high incidence of HCV reinfection (15.