title: HLA-DQ gene polymorphisms are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genome-wide association studies have revealed that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ is associated with the clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We examined the effects of SNPs on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and markers of HBV in chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SNPs of HLA-DQ (rs2856718 and rs7453920) were determined in 299 patients with chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 224 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients, those with rs2856718 genotype AG + GG had significantly lower hepatitis B core-related antigen levels (P = 0.0184), less frequent treatment with nucleotide/nucleoside analogs (NAs) (P = 0.0433), and less frequent HCC development (P = 0.0256) than those with genotype AA. Multivariate analysis selected age (P = 0.0460), platelet count (P = 0.0481), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 0.0030), and nucleotide/nucleoside analog treatment (P = 0.0003) as factors independently associated with HCC development. HBeAg-negative patients with rs7453920 genotype GG had significantly lower HBsAg levels (P < 0.0001), a higher prevalence of HBV genotype C (P = 0.0063), and a lower prevalence of the wild-type basal core promoter region (P = 0.0045) than those with genotype AA + AG. Multivariate analysis selected age (P < 0.0001), platelet count (P = 0.0021), HBV DNA levels (P = 0.0314), wild type of precore region (P = 0.0015), and rs7453920 (P < 0.0001) as factors independently associated with HBsAg levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed an association between rs2856718 and HCC development and an association between rs7453920 and HBsAg levels.
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Ochi
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Senju
authors: S
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Naoto
authors: N
authors: Kawabe
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Michihito
authors: M
authors: Murao
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Takuji
authors: T
authors: Nakano
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Toshiki
authors: T
authors: Kan
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Nakaoka
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Ohki
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Takamitsu
authors: T
authors: Kurashita
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Tomoki
authors: T
authors: Takamura
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Sayuri
authors: S
authors: Nomura
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Nishikawa
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Health Care Management, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Aiko
authors: A
authors: Fukui
authors: Faculty of Medical Technology, School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Osakabe
authors: Faculty of Medical Technology, School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Naohiro
authors: N
authors: Ichino
authors: Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Yoshioka
keywords: HBcrAg; HBeAg; HBsAg; HLA-DQ; hepatitis B virus; hepatocellular carcinoma