Distinct MHC class I and II alleles are associated with hepatitis C viral clearance, originating from a single source

✍ Scribed by Susan M. McKiernan; Richard Hagan; Michael Curry; George S. A. McDonald; Alan Kelly; Niamh Nolan; Anne Walsh; John Hegarty; Emer Lawlor; Dermot Kelleher

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 117 KB
• Volume: 40
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.20261

✦ Synopsis

The role of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, restricted by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles, is recognized as highly significant in the successful clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The frequency of class I alleles in females inoculated with HCV genotype 1b from a single source was examined for an association with outcome. Class I typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers in 227 female subjects: 141 had chronic infection and 86 had viral clearance. Statistical analysis included 2 testing and multiple logistic regression analysis. A*03, B*27, and Cw*01 occurred more frequently in those with viral clearance (39.5%, 14%, and 9.3%, respectively) compared with those with chronic infection (19.1%, 2.1%, and 1.4%, respectively; P < .005). B*08 occurred more often in those with chronic infection compared with viral clearance (39.7% vs. 19.8%; P ‫؍‬ .002). In combination with previously reported class II allele associations, over 75% that successfully eliminate HCV carry either A*03, DRB1*0101, or *0401, compared with only 37% of those with chronic infection (P < .0001). The haplotypes A*03-B*07-DRB1*15-DQB1*0602 and A*02-B*27-Cw*01-DRB1*0101-DQB1*0501 are associated with viral clearance (P ‫؍‬ .004 and .01, respectively). By multiple logistic regression analysis, the alleles A*03, B*27, DRB1*0101, *0401, and *15 are associated with viral clearance, and B*27 has the strongest association (odds ratio [OR] 7.99). The haplotype A*01-B*08-Cw*07-DRB1*03011-DQB1*0201 is associated with chronic infection (P ‫؍‬ .002), being independent for DQB1*0201 (OR 0.27). In conclusion, certain class I alleles are associated with outcome in this homogenous cohort. More significantly, either HLA-A*03, -DRB1*0101, or -*0401 are carried by an overwhelming majority of those subjects who successfully clear HCV. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:108 -114.