Human leukocyte antigen phenotypes and hepatitis C viral load.
BACKGROUND
After hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 55% to 85% of patients become chronic carriers. HCV-RNA could be detected in the sera of these patients though the viral load varies. Various factors may be involved in determining the viral load.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we want to investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen phenotypes and hepatitis C viral load.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty HCV-RNA positive subjects were investigated in this study.


RESULTS
We have analyzed 160 HCV-RNA positive subjects and found that lower HCV viral load is significantly associated with HBsAg-positivity (P = 0.017) but not age, gender, or mixed infection (infection with different HCV genotypes). One hundred and fifty-four HBsAg-negative subjects were further analyzed to explore the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotypes and HCV viral load. Subjects with certain HLA alleles (A*34, B*56, DRB1*1502) have significantly lower viral load than those without these alleles (P = 0.0074, 0.0039 and 0.016, respectively) while those with HLA-B*4001 have significantly higher viral load (P = 0.0026). Furthermore, lower viral load was significantly associated with HLA-DRB1 heterozygosity in subjects with HLA-B heterozygosity (P = 0.048).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggests a role for host immunogenetic factors in determining viral load during HCV infection.
Wang
Li-Yu
LY
Graduate Institute of Aboriginal Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Lin
Hans Hsienhong
HH
Lee
Tsung-Dao
TD
Wu
Ya-Fang
YF
Hu
Chi-Tan
CT
Cheng
Mu-Liang
ML
Lo
Shih-Yen
SY
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010641:Phenotype; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012367:RNA, Viral