Relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism -229C/T in P1 promoter of furin gene and functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis

AIM: To study the influences of P1 promoter activity of furin gene on the functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: The patients with liver cirrhosis of 180 cases were recruited. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP -229 C/T) in P1 promoter of furin gene was genotyped using competitively differentiated polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between the promoter activity based on genotyping and the serum levels of liver enzymes, total bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin were observed. RESULTS: The distribution frequencies of allele C and T were 75.3% (271/360) and 24.7% (89/360). Those of genotypes CC, CT and TT were 62.2% (112/180), 26.1% (47/180) and 11.7% (21/180), respectively. The distribution frequencies of the genotypes were not related to the serum levels of major liver enzymes, albumin, total bilirubin and prothrombin, except for alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase. CONCLUSION: The activity of furin promoter exerts no effects on the main functions of hepatocytes, suggesting that furin may be a new therapeutic target for HBV infection.