title: Human leukocyte antigen class I and II alleles and response to interferon-alpha treatment, in Taiwanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: To investigate the influence of immunogenetics on response to interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment, human leukocyte antigen alleles were characterized in 100 unrelated Taiwanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A11, B51, Cw15, and DRB1*15 were positively correlated with sustained response, whereas A24 was inversely associated with response to IFN-alpha, after adjustment for cirrhosis, pretreatment virus load, and viral genotype. Homozygote-genotype analysis showed that A24 and DQB1*05 probably had gene-dosage effect on sustained response. DRB1*15 was in strong linkage disequilibrium with DQB1*05 and DQB1*06, but only haplotype DRB1*15-DQB1*05 was associated with response to IFN-alpha. Haplotype A11-DRB1*15 was strongly associated with sustained response. This suggests a role for a complex host-immunogenetics interplay in the response to IFN-alpha, in patients with chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. fishya@ms14.hinet.net
authors.forename: Ming-Lung
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Shinn-Cherng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chao-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Li-Po
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zu-Yau
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming-Yuh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Liang-Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wan-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral