title: Human leukocyte antigen class II DQB1*0301, DRB1*1101 alleles and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQB1*0301 and/or DRB1*1101 allele with spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance by meta-analysis of individual dataset from all studies published till date.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify the impact of HLA class II polymorphisms on viral clearance, we performed a meta-analysis of the published data from 11 studies comparing the frequencies of DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 alleles in individuals with spontaneous resolution to those with persistent infection. As we identified the heterogeneity between studies, summary statistical data were calculated based on a random-effect model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meta-analyses yielded summary estimates-odds ratio (OR) of 2.36 [95%CI (1.62, 3.43), P<0.00001] and 2.02 [95%CI (1.56, 2.62), P<0.00001] for the effects of DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 alleles on spontaneous clearance of HCV, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the hypothesis that specific HLA class II alleles might influence the susceptibility or resistance to persistent HCV infection. Both DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 are protective alleles and present HCV epitopes more effectively to CD4(+)T lymphocytes than others, and subjects with these two alleles are at a lower risk of developing chronic HCV infection. Large, multi-ethnic confirmatory and well-designed studies are needed to determine the host genetic determinants of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Rong-Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Nan-Xiong
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yao-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guan-Ling
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains