the association between nfkbia polymorphisms and the progression of chronic hepatitis b virus infection among the chinese han population

Based on the involvement of nuclear factor-κb inhibitor alpha (nfkiba) in the nf-κ b pathway, which is closely related to host immunity, we evaluated whether nfkiba polymorphisms are associated with the disease progression of chronic hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection. we collected blood samples from a total of 212 treatment-naïve patients with chronic hbv infection. nfkbia polymorphisms were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to quantify the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α) and interleukin-6(il-6). unconditional logistic regression revealed that carriers of the tt genotype at rs2233406 had a greater risk (or = 5.57, 95% ci = 2.14-14.52) of chronic hbv infection progression. a similar association was observed for the rs2233409 polymorphism, in which the or for the tt genotype was 4.06 (95% ci = 1.70-9.71) compared to that for the wildtype cc genotype. mutations at rs2233406 and rs2233409 also impact liver function parameters and cytokine levels. however, null associations were observed between these parameters and rs696 polymorphism. these findings suggest that reduced nfkbia function leads to activation of the nf-κb pathway, and consequently causes inflammation and liver damage among patients with chronic hbv infection.