Association between human leukocytes antigen alleles and chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the Korean population.
OBJECTIVE
Recent data have shown that the clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be influenced by the host genetic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether particular human leukocytes antigen (HLA) molecules are associated with the susceptibility to HCV infection in the Korean population.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-seven patients with chronic HCV infection and 206 normal individuals were examined for HLA class I and II molecules.


RESULTS
In class I antigens, the frequencies of HLA-A3 (relative risk (RR)=3.5, P<0.04), HLA-B35 (RR=2.0, P<0.03), and HLA-B46 (RR=2.5, P<0.02) significantly increased in chronic HCV carriers compared with the controls. The frequencies of DRB1*0803, DQB1*0601 and DQB1*0604 were significantly higher in chronic HCV carriers than in controls (RR=2.5, P<0.005; RR=1.8, P<0.05; RR=1.9, P<0.04, respectively). On the other hand, the frequencies of DRB1*0301, DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0201 were significantly lower in chronic HCV carriers than in normal controls (RR=0.2, P<0.03; RR=0.4, P<0.004; RR=0.5, P<0.02, respectively). The haplotype DRB1*0803-DQB1*0601 significantly increased (RR=2.5, P<0.02) while the DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 significantly decreased (RR=0.2, P<0.03) in chronic HCV carriers compared with normal controls. In stratification analysis to investigate the interrelationships among the associated alleles, DRB1*0803 and DQB1*0601 were associated with HLA-B46, particularly in patients with chronic HCV carriers.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that particular HLA alleles may have an influence on chronic HCV infection as a host genetic factor in the Korean population.
Yoon
Seung Kew
SK
Department of Internal Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis, Seoul, Korea.
Han
Joon Yeol
JY
Pyo
Chul-Woo
CW
Yang
Jin Mo
JM
Jang
Jeong Won
JW
Kim
Chang Wook
CW
Chang
U Im
UI
Bae
Si Hyun
SH
Choi
Jong Young
JY
Chung
Kyu Won
KW
Sun
Hee Sik
HS
Choi
Hee Baeg
HB
Kim
Tai-Gyu
TG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype
D006680:HLA Antigens