Aim: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of class II transactivator (CIITA) gene promoters and chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
Methods: Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes. Promoters I, III and IV of gene were analyzed respectively with polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in 65 patients with CHB, 26 patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) and 85 normal controls.
Results: No abnormal migration was found in PCR-SSCP analysis of the three promoters in the three groups. Also, no sequential difference was observed at the three promoters among the CHB patients, AHB patients and normal controls.
Conclusion: No polymorphism in promoters I, III and IV of CIITA gene exists in CHB patients, ABH patients and normal controls, suggesting that the promoter of CIITA gene might be a conserved domain.