title: Genetic variation at immunoglobulin kappa locus is associated with hepatitis C-treatment-induced viral clearance in African Americans.
abstract: Host genetic factors, especially genes of the immune system, are thought to contribute to the racial differences in response rates to therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether immunoglobulin gamma heavy chain marker (GM) and kappa light chain marker (KM) -were associated with sustained viral response (SVR) in patients treated with peginterferon-α-2a and ribavirin. DNA samples from 319 subjects with genotype-1 HCV infections were allotyped for alleles at four GM loci: GM3/GM17, GM23+/GM23-, GM5/GM21, GM6+/GM6- and the KM locus: KM1/KM3, using molecular methods. Noncarriage of KM1 allele, i.e., KM3 homozygosity, was associated with higher SVR in African Americans (odds ratio = 2.50, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-5.60). Consistent with this finding, the HCV RNA level in KM1 noncarriers was significantly (p = 0.013) lower than in carriers of this allele. Thus, the KM3 allele may be a marker for higher SVR in African Americans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. pandeyj@musc.edu
authors.forename: Janardan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kistner-Griffin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007142:Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007142:Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a