Great to see you looking so well after all your trials! Have a great HCV-free life with Lindsay.
BTW, I did a post on the IL28B polymorphisms. It's a Sticky, the first one in Knowledge Base. Cheers.
LadyAlaise said
Sep 19, 2013
Here I was tested for the ILB28 (or something like that) gene; (you either have CC,CT,TC,TT) You inherit a letter from both your parents. It has something to do with how well one might respond to the Triple Therapy Treatment (Peg Interferon, Riba & Teleprevir/Incivik)
They found that those with CC responded the best? (At least that is what my liver doc told me)
I got lucky I had CC.
Anyone with more knowledge about this gene etc please feel free to correct or add to that... :)
mallani said
Sep 19, 2013
Hi all,
Gene testing continues, and there is no doubt that treatment and likelihood of response to Rx can be predicted for some diseases. There is still conflicting evidence about particular genes, so I'll talk about 2 that have been mentioned on the Forum.
COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase) gene: This is situated on Chromosome 22. I was tested for mutations in this gene in the 1980's, as part of my hypertension workup. This gene regulates the production and breakdown of dopamine, which was thought to be related to high blood pressure. The 2 alleles are called Val158, and Met158 (some researchers use different terms). About half the population carry the V158/M158 allele, about one quarter carry V158/V158, and the other quarter T158/T158. There is a reported association between the T158/T158 allele with hypertension, anxiety and bipolar disorder. I can't remember my result, but I was put on a drug called AldoMet, to block this gene. It didn't work very well, so it was stopped after 6 months! There is continuing research in the psychiatric problems that may be related to this gene.
MTHFR (Methylene TetraHydroFolate Reductase) gene: This is a beauty! The 2 important SNP's are called C677T and A1298C. Initially, most of the research on C677T was in relation to likelihood of liver steatosis (fatty liver) and progressive fibrosis (in HCV). The alleles at this SNP are called CC/CT and TT. Patients with the CC allele had a 10% chance of steatosis, CT had a 50% chance and the TT's had a 80% chance. Some papers found that the TT allele was more common in Geno 3, but this has not been confirmed on later studies. Basicly, C677T regulates the production of methionine, which is anti-inflammatory, promotes the breakdown of serotonin and dopamine, and stimulates the immune system and growth and repair of all damaged cells in the body. Serotonin and dopamine both play a big role in our psychiatric makeup, and excess or depletion may be associated with anxiety, depression, irritability etc. etc. Again, those with the TT allele are more likely to have these problems, and may suffer folic acid deficiency. A lot of garbage has been written about this gene, particularly from some Homeopaths etc, but nothing is definite as yet.
Sorry, this is a simplified version of a complex topic, but it really is pretty complicated. Cheers to all who got this far!
Matt Chris said
Sep 19, 2013
Hey Malcolm
Thanks for that info on those 2 Gene tests. I would guess the holes / questions about the genetic tendencies will fill in with the passage of time and good data.
The genetic test I was interested in was the test that you had to test your level of sensitivity to interferon. Could you explain that particular genetic test?
BTY Great to see you fishing again, I like the Pics where you are showing the fish you caught.
Cheers Matt
-- Edited by Matt Chris on Thursday 19th of September 2013 06:14:50 AM
Hi Renee,
Great to see you looking so well after all your trials! Have a great HCV-free life with Lindsay.
BTW, I did a post on the IL28B polymorphisms. It's a Sticky, the first one in Knowledge Base. Cheers.
They found that those with CC responded the best? (At least that is what my liver doc told me)
I got lucky I had CC.
Anyone with more knowledge about this gene etc please feel free to correct or add to that... :)
Hi all,
Gene testing continues, and there is no doubt that treatment and likelihood of response to Rx can be predicted for some diseases. There is still conflicting evidence about particular genes, so I'll talk about 2 that have been mentioned on the Forum.
COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase) gene: This is situated on Chromosome 22. I was tested for mutations in this gene in the 1980's, as part of my hypertension workup. This gene regulates the production and breakdown of dopamine, which was thought to be related to high blood pressure. The 2 alleles are called Val158, and Met158 (some researchers use different terms). About half the population carry the V158/M158 allele, about one quarter carry V158/V158, and the other quarter T158/T158. There is a reported association between the T158/T158 allele with hypertension, anxiety and bipolar disorder. I can't remember my result, but I was put on a drug called AldoMet, to block this gene. It didn't work very well, so it was stopped after 6 months! There is continuing research in the psychiatric problems that may be related to this gene.
MTHFR (Methylene TetraHydroFolate Reductase) gene: This is a beauty! The 2 important SNP's are called C677T and A1298C. Initially, most of the research on C677T was in relation to likelihood of liver steatosis (fatty liver) and progressive fibrosis (in HCV). The alleles at this SNP are called CC/CT and TT. Patients with the CC allele had a 10% chance of steatosis, CT had a 50% chance and the TT's had a 80% chance. Some papers found that the TT allele was more common in Geno 3, but this has not been confirmed on later studies. Basicly, C677T regulates the production of methionine, which is anti-inflammatory, promotes the breakdown of serotonin and dopamine, and stimulates the immune system and growth and repair of all damaged cells in the body. Serotonin and dopamine both play a big role in our psychiatric makeup, and excess or depletion may be associated with anxiety, depression, irritability etc. etc. Again, those with the TT allele are more likely to have these problems, and may suffer folic acid deficiency. A lot of garbage has been written about this gene, particularly from some Homeopaths etc, but nothing is definite as yet.
Sorry, this is a simplified version of a complex topic, but it really is pretty complicated. Cheers to all who got this far!
Hey Malcolm
Thanks for that info on those 2 Gene tests. I would guess the holes / questions about the genetic tendencies will fill in with the passage of time and good data.
The genetic test I was interested in was the test that you had to test your level of sensitivity to interferon. Could you explain that particular genetic test?
BTY Great to see you fishing again, I like the Pics where you are showing the fish you caught.
Cheers Matt
-- Edited by Matt Chris on Thursday 19th of September 2013 06:14:50 AM