title: Host genetic variants influencing the clinical course of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: The clinical course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection greatly differs in individuals. Various viral, host, and environmental factors influence the natural history of HCV infection. Recent genome-wide association studies identified several host genetic factors influencing treatment efficacy or clinical course in HCV infection. A landmark discovery was that IFNL3-IFNL4 variants are strongly associated with responses to interferon-based treatment. Genetic variants in IFNL3-IFNL4 as well as those in HLA class II loci influence the spontaneous clearance of acute HCV infection. Interestingly, these genetic variants also affect the activity of hepatitis, or disease progression in chronic hepatitis C. In addition, polymorphisms in apoptosis-related genes such as RNF7, TULP1, and MERTK are associated with fibrosis progression, and DEPDC5 and MICA variants are associated with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding the genetic factors associated with the clinical course of HCV infection is essential for personalized treatment and surveillance of disease progression and hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.|Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.|Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical CenterInfectious Disease and Immunogenetics Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D060467:Disease Resistance; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: GWAS; HCC; HCV; fibrosis; spontaneous clearance