Demethylation of tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme promoter associated with high hepatitis B e antigen level in chronic hepatitis B

Table 1 Primers for methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction of the tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme gene

Primer name	Primer sequence (5’-3’)	Product size (bp)	Annealing temperature (°C)
M	F: GGAGTTTGAGATTAGTTTGGTTAAC	146	56
	R: TAAACACCTCCTAAATTTAAACGAT
U	F: AGGAGTTTGAGATTAGTTTGGTTAATG	147	56
	R: TAAACACCTCCTAAATTTAAACAAT

M: Methylated sequence; U: Unmethylated sequence; F: Forward; R: Reverse.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the enrolled participants

Variable	HBeAg+ CHB group	HBeAg- CHB group	HC group
Number	80	80	40
Age (yr)	41.50 (33.25-51.0)	45.00 (33.25-52.0)	36.50 (31.0-44.50)
Male sex, n (%)	57 (71.25)	53 (66.25)	28 (70.00)
HBeAg	132.85 (24.30-512.12)	NA	NA
Log10 (HBV DNA)	5.23 (3.90-6.41)	3.08 (0.0-5.43)	NA
ALT (U/L)	189.50 (78.25-441.75)	91.50 (44.0-236.50)	NA
AST (U/L)	106.0 (46.0-287.75)	56.50 (30.0-108.75)	NA
TBIL (μmol/L)	16.95 (11.10-20.0)	18.75 (15.00-21.18)	NA
ALB (g/L)	44.85 (42.83-48.48)	45.56 (42.05-49.38)	NA
Cr (μmol/L)	63.0 (53.0-75.50)	64.00 (56.0-77.75)	NA
PT-INR	1.02 (0.99-1.09)	1.01 (0.96-1.05)	NA
PTA (%)	81.50 (71.25-93.0)	87.0 (80.0-102.0)	NA
Methylation, n (%)	58 (72.5)	72 (90)	38 (95)

Quantitative variables are expressed as the median (25^th-75^th percentiles). Categorical variables are expressed as number (percentage). ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; TBIL: Total bilirubin; ALB: Albumin; Cr: Creatinine; PT-INR: Prothrombin time-international normalized ratio; PTA: Prothrombin activity; NA: Not available.