HLA-DP and γ-interferon receptor-2 gene variants and their association with viral hepatitis activity in chronic hepatitis B infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

Studies show that polymorphisms in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DP loci and certain γ-interferon (IFN-γ) signaling pathway genes are related to persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and viral load in chronic HBV (CHB) infection respectively. Our study aims to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to HLA-DP loci and IFN-γ signaling pathway are associated with HBV activities.

METHODS:

We compared the SNPs in the HLA-DPA1 gene (rs3077) and the IFN-γ receptor-2 gene (rs2284553 and rs9808753) of 100 treatment-naive hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB patients with undetectable HBV DNA with 100 age- and sex-matched controls with HBV DNA > 2000 IU/mL.

RESULTS:

The median age of the study group was 47.9 years, and 61% were male patients. The distribution of the three polymorphisms was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Both rs3077 and rs2284553 polymorphisms were not associated with HBV viral load in terms of allelic frequency, genotypic frequency, dominant/recessive gene action. rs9808753 (G allele) was associated with a reduced chance of "undetectable HBV DNA" for patients below the age of 50 years in allelic frequency analysis (odds ratio 0.562; 95% confidence interval, 0.326-0.967; P value = 0.037). IFN-γ receptor-2 gene haplotype block (rs2284553/rs9808753) was not associated with HBV viral activity.

CONCLUSION:

There was no significant association between HLA-DP polymorphism (rs3077) and IFN-γ receptor-2 gene polymorphism (rs2284553) with viral activity in HBeAg-negative CHB patients. Further studies are required to confirm the association between IFN-γ receptor-2 gene polymorphism (rs9808753) and reduced chance of having "undetectable HBV DNA" in young CHB patients.

• Authors: Yuk-Fai Lam, Danny Ka-Ho Wong, Wai-Kay Seto, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, James Fung, Ching-Lung Lai, Man-Fung Yuen
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 533-9 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1440-1746 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 23980639 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2013 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• HLA-DP alpha-Chains
• HLA-DPA1 antigen
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Receptors, Interferon
• interferon gamma receptor

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• DNA, Viral
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• HLA-DP alpha-Chains (genetics)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Hepatitis B virus (genetics)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (genetics, virology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Receptors, Interferon (genetics)
• Signal Transduction (genetics)
• Viral Load (genetics)
• Young Adult