Relationship of human leukocyte antigen class II genes with the susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and the response to interferon in HBV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the genetic susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to interferon (IFN) in HBV-infected patients.


METHODS
Low-resolution DNA typing kit was used to determine HLA-DR-1 and -DQB1 genes in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HLA-DRB1 in 200 healthy people ready to donate their bone marrow in Shanghai. Among CHB patients, 35 were treated with IFNalpha-1b for 24 wk.


RESULTS
The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*06, DRB1*08 and DRB1*16 alleles in 72 patients were higher than in 200 healthy people (2.08% vs 0%, OR = 3.837, P = 0.018; 11.11% vs 5.50%, OR = 2.148, P = 0.034; and 6.94% vs 3.00%, OR = 0.625, P = 0.049, respectively); whereas that of DRB1*07 allele was lower (2.78% vs 7.75%, OR = 0.340, P = 0.046). The frequency of HLA-DRB1* 14 allele was higher in 11 responders to IFN compared with 24 non-responders (18.18% vs 2.08%, OR = 10.444, P = 0.031), whereas that of DQB1*07 allele was inverse (9.09% vs 37.50%, OR = 0.167, P = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
The polymorphism of HLA class II may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with other HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1*06, DRB1*08, and DRB1*16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1*07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1*14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment. Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1*07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN.
Han
Yong-Nian
YN
Research Unit of Liver Diseases, Shanghai 8th People's Hospital, Shanghai 200235, China. hanyn88@163.com
Yang
Jin-Long
JL
Zheng
Shui-Gen
SG
Tang
Qun
Q
Zhu
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D016898:Interferon-alpha