title: Association between MHC class II alleles and clearance of circulating hepatitis C virus. Members of the Trent Hepatitis C Virus Study Group.
abstract: The frequencies of HLA class I antigens and class II haplotypes were compared in subjects with previous (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-negative) or with persistent (PCR-positive) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in HCV patients with mild versus severe histologic activity scores on liver biopsy. The DRB1*11 allele group was found in 11 (31.4%) of 35 subjects with previous infection and in 11 (8.2%) of 135 subjects with persistent infection (P < .001). The DQB1*0301 allele was found in 18 (51.4%) of 35 subjects with previous infection and in 33 (24.4%) of 135 patients with persistent infection (P < .002). Both observations remained significant after correction for multiple testing. No significant association was shown between severity of disease and any HLA class I or II type. Thus, the HLA class II alleles DRB1*11 and DQB1*0301 are associated with clearance of circulating HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, City and University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Minton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smillie
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II