Aim: To characterize high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) polymorphisms in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and determine the different patterns in patient subgroups.
Methods: A total of 1495 unrelated Han Chinese HBV carriers were recruited in this hospital-based case-control study. The HMGB1 1176 G/C polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.
Results: A significant association was observed between HMGB1 1176 G/C polymorphism and outcome of HBV infection. The subjects bearing 1176G/G genotype had an increased risk of susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and severe hepatitis B when compared with those bearing at least one 1176C allele.
Conclusion: Patients with 1176G/G genotype of HMGB1 gene are more likely to have a progressive status in HBV infection.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1; Intron; Polymorphism.