title: Clinical significance of the CCR5delta32 allele in hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The CCR5 receptor, expressed on Th1 cells, may influence clinical outcomes of HCV infection. We explored a possible link between a CCR5 32-base deletion (CCR5delta32), resulting in the expression of a non-functioning receptor, and clinical outcomes of HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  CCR5 and HCV-related phenotypes were analysed in 1,290 chronically infected patients and 160 patients with spontaneous clearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carriage of the CCR5delta32 allele was observed in 11% of spontaneous clearers compared to 17% of chronically infected patients (OR = 0.59, 95% CI interval 0.35-0.99, P = 0.047). Carriage of this allele also tended to be observed more frequently among patients with liver inflammation (19%) compared to those without inflammation (15%, OR = 1.38, 95% CI interval 0.99-1.95, P = 0.06). The CCR5delta32 was not associated with sustained virological response (P = 0.6), fibrosis stage (P = 0.8), or fibrosis progression rate (P = 0.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CCR5delta32 allele appears to be associated with a decreased rate of spontaneous HCV eradication, but not with hepatitis progression or response to antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morard
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pathology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calmy
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza," San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangia
authors.affiliation: Service of Hepatology, Clinica Moncucco, Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerny
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Gottardi
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Meri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorgievski
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Pourtalès Hospital, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malinverni
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moradpour
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Müllhaupt
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Canton Hospital, St. Gall, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Semela
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pascarella
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Bochud
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Clinical Pathology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negro
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D010641:Phenotype; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019713:Receptors, CCR5