BACKGROUND: The role of MCP1-2518 A/G in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency distribution of MCP1-2518 A/G (rs1024611) polymorphic variants in hemodialysis (HD) patients without or with type 2 diabetes in relation to serological markers of HBV infection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: HD patients (n=170, 48 with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes), who tested positive for total antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), underwent MCP1 genotyping using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Anti-HBc was accompanied by antibodies to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) in 127 individuals. In anti-HBc-positive/anti-HBs-negative patients, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was shown in 15 patients and isolated anti-HBc were present in 28 patients. The distribution of MCP1 genotypes in anti-HBc-positive patients was compared to that in healthy subjects (n=437) and anti-HBc-negative HD patients (n=754).

RESULTS: There were no significant differences (Ptrend >0.05) in distribution of MCP1 genotypes between anti-HBc-positive patients, anti-HBc-negative subjects, and controls, regardless of anti-HBs or diabetic status. The MCP1-2518G allele prevalence was higher in HBsAg-positive/anti-HBs-negative patients defined as HBV carriers compared to MCP1-2518G allele frequency shown in groups composed of HBsAg-negative HD individuals and controls (50% vs. 28%, Ptrend 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS: A frequency distribution of MCP1 polymorphic variants is not associated with anti-HBs development in response to HBV infection in HD patients, independent of diabetic status, but the MCP1-2518G allele may predispose to HBsAg persistence (HBV carrier status).

Keywords: Chemokine CCL2 - genetics, Case-Control Studies, Biological Markers - blood, Demography, Diabetes Mellitus - genetics, Hepatitis B - virology, Hepatitis B Core Antigens - immunology, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology, Hepatitis B virus - physiology, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics, Renal Dialysis