A meta-analysis of the relation of polymorphism at sites-1082 and-592 of the IL-10 gene promoter with susceptibility and clearance to persistent hepatitis B virus infection in the Chinese population

Up to now, many publications about the Chinese population have evaluated the correlation between interleukin-10 (IL-10) -1082 and -592 polymorphisms and persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the results remain inconclusive. In order to resolve this conflict, a meta-analysis was performed. Seven studies were included and dichotomous data are presented as the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The results of our study suggest that carriers of the IL-10 -592A allele were more likely to clear HBV spontaneously in the Chinese pooled population (A vs. C: OR = 0.799, 95% CI = 0.678-0.941, P = 0.007; AC vs. AA: OR = 1.343, 95% CI = 1.017-1.684, P = 0.011; AA vs. AC + CC: OR = 0.736, 95% CI = 0.594-0.912; AA + AC vs. CC: OR = 0.588, 95% CI = 0.408-0.848, P = 0.004) and the IL-10 -1082A allele was associated with significantly reduced persistent HBV infection risk in Chinese (A vs. G: OR = 0.701, 95% CI = 0.494-0.996, P = 0.047; AA vs. GG + GA: OR = 0.684, 95% CI = 0.476-0.982, P = 0.040). Persistent HBV infection susceptibility is associated with the gene polymorphism IL-10 -1082GA in the Chinese population and the clearance of HBV is associated with the gene polymorphism IL-10 -592CA in the Chinese population.