title: A polymorphism in IL28B distinguishes exposed, uninfected individuals from spontaneous resolvers of HCV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polymorphisms in the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene are associated with outcomes from infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the role of these polymorphisms in protecting injection drug users who are at high risk for HCV infection but do not have detectable antibodies against HCV or HCV RNA (exposed uninfected) has not been demonstrated. We investigated whether these individuals have the IL28B genotype rs12979860-CC, which protects some individuals against HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four exposed uninfected individuals, 89 spontaneous resolvers, and 234 chronically infected individuals were genotyped to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms at IL28B.rs12979860.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposed, uninfected individuals had a significantly lower frequency of the protective genotype (rs12979860-CC) than anti-HCV-positive spontaneous resolvers (41.9% vs 69.7%, respectively; P=.0005; odds ratio [OR], 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-0.60) but a similar frequency to patients who were chronically infected (41.9% vs 43.6%, respectively; P=ns). However, exposed, uninfected individuals had a significantly higher frequency of homozygosity for killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL3:group 1 HLA-C (KIR2DL3:HLA-C1) than those with chronic infection (31.1% vs 13.3%, respectively; P=.0008; OR, 2.95; 95% CI: 1.59-5.49). For patients who spontaneously resolved infection, IL28B and KIR:HLA protected, independently, against chronic HCV infection, based on logistic regression and synergy analyses (synergy factor, 1.3; 95% CI: 0.37-4.75; P synergy=.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL28B and KIR2DL3:HLA-C1 are independently associated with spontaneous resolution of viremia following HCV exposure. Resistance to HCV infection in exposed uninfected cases is associated with homozygosity for KIR2DL3:HLA-C1 but not the single nucleotide polymorphism IL28B.rs12979860. Uninfected individuals are therefore a distinct population from patients who spontaneously resolve HCV infection. Distinct, nonsynergistic innate immune mechanisms can determine outcomes of HCV exposure.
authors: Department of Hepatology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Knapp
authors: Usama
authors: U
authors: Warshow
authors: K M Alexander
authors: KM
authors: Ho
authors: Doha
authors: D
authors: Hegazy
authors: Ann-Margaret
authors: AM
authors: Little
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Fowell
authors: Graeme
authors: G
authors: Alexander
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Thursz
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Cramp
authors: Salim I
authors: SI
authors: Khakoo
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