The MHC is a major determinant of viral status, but not fibrotic stage, in individuals infected with hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
In hepatitis C infection, several studies have examined the role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in determining outcome, with variable results. To clarify the importance of MHC, we examined class II DR and DQ antigens in a homogenous cohort of women exposed to hepatitis C genotype 1b from a single inoculum.


METHODS
Of 243 participants, 95 had spontaneous viral clearance and 148 are chronically infected. The frequencies of HLA class II DR and DQ antigens were compared between the 2 groups and between liver biopsy findings of 145 chronically infected subjects.


RESULTS
DRB1*0101 and DQB1*0501 alleles were more frequent in subjects who sustained viral clearance than in chronically infected subjects (32.3% and 36.8% vs. 8.8% and 14.2%, respectively; P = 0.002). DRB1*03011 and DQB1*0201 occurred more frequently in chronically infected subjects than in those who cleared the virus (41.5% and 42.6% vs. 16.7% and 15.8%, respectively; P = 0.001). Both DRB1*03011 and DQB1*0201 were significantly less frequent in those with higher inflammatory scores on liver biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
We show that in a homogenous cohort of women infected with the same hepatitis C virus, several HLA antigens are associated with either viral clearance or persistence. This suggests a strong role for host immunogenetic factors in determining outcome in hepatitis C infection.
McKiernan
S M
SM
St. James's Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Hagan
R
R
Curry
M
M
McDonald
G S
GS
Nolan
N
N
Crowley
J
J
Hegarty
J
J
Lawlor
E
E
Kelleher
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D015415:Biomarkers; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II