Hepatitis B Virus Genotype B and High Expression of Interferon Alpha Receptor β Subunit are Associated With Better Response to Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in Chinese Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Abstract

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of leading causes of various hepatic diseases including acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hundreds of million people worldwide are infected by HBV, chronically.ObjectivesThis study in conducted to investigate the influence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and type I IFN-αreceptor β subunit (IFNAR2) expression in liver on response to treatment with pegylated IFN-α-2a (Peg-IFN-α-2a) for chronic hepatitis B infection.Patients and MethodsIn this study, 65 eligible patients with chronic hepatitis B disease were enrolled. HBV genotypes of these patients were analyzed by using PCR-RFLP of the surface gene of HBV. The expression of IFNAR2 in the liver was immune histochemically investigated using anti-IFNAR2 antibody. All immune histochemical slides were read semi-quantitatively by image analysis. Chronic hepatitis B patients were treated with Peg-IFN-α2a therapy for a 48-week period and followed up for 24 weeks. Baseline characteristics and sustained viral response (SVR) to Peg-IFN-α-2a therapy were evaluated.Results55 % of patients exhibited HBV genotype B and 31.7 % patients exhibited HBV genotypes C infections. After treatment with Peg-IFN-α-2a, SVR was achieved in 66.7 % of patients with HBV genotype B and in 26.3 % of patients with HBV genotype C (P = 0.009). Semiquantitative and the image analysis indicated by gray level values revealed a higher IFNAR2 expression in the group with severe inflammation (P < 0.001). Patients’ high IFNAR2 protein expression had a significant impact on SVR to Peg-IFN-α-2a therapy (P = 0.028).ConclusionsHBV genotype B and high expression of IFNAR2 in the liver of chronic hepatitis B patients are closely associated with better response to Peg-IFN-α-2a therapy in chronic hepatitis B disease.

Characterization of Occult Hepatitis B Infection Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, Iran

“…Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide ( 1 , 2 ). The HBV genome is compact and consists of double-strand circular DNA of approximately 3.2 base pairs that encodes four partially overlapping open reading frames: surface (S), core (C), polymerase (P), and X genes.…”

Polymorphisms of CYP27B1 are associated with IFN efficacy in HBeAg‐positive patients

“…As IFN is generally poorly tolerated and only leads to a successful response in a subgroup of patients, it is essential to select patients who have the high probability to achieve a response before initiating therapy. The response rate to treatment of CHB was strongly influenced by genetic factors such as HLA‐DR, HLA‐DP, HLA‐DQ, IL‐28B, and IFNAR . In the CHB treatment, the role of CYP27B1 is still ambiguous.…”

“…The response rate to treatment of CHB was strongly influenced by genetic factors such as HLA-DR, HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, IL-28B, and IFNAR. 7,8,[15][16][17][18][19][20] In the CHB treatment, the role of CYP27B1 is still ambiguous. The relationship between VD and liver disease is reciprocal.…”

Relationship between hepatitis B virus genotype B and C and response to interferon therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients: A meta‐analysis

“…Treatment is generally recommended for patients with HBeAg‐positive CHB who do not clear HBeAg spontaneously, have high serum HBV DNA levels and persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels . Currently, two groups of drugs approved by Federal Drug Administration for treatment of CHB disease consist of the immune modulators such as conventional interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α) and pegylated interferon‐alpha (Peg‐IFN‐α), and nucleoside–nucleotide analogs such as lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil . IFN is the main antiviral therapy for CHB patients; it has the potential for immune‐mediated containment of the virus after a finite duration of treatment in patients who are able to tolerate the subcutaneous administration and frequent side effects …”

“…5,6 Currently, two groups of drugs approved by Federal Drug Administration for treatment of CHB disease consist of the immune modulators such as conventional interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α), and nucleoside-nucleotide analogs such as lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil. 7 IFN is the main antiviral therapy for CHB patients; it has the potential for immunemediated containment of the virus after a finite duration of treatment in patients who are able to tolerate the subcutaneous administration and frequent side effects. 5 Several HBV factors, including HBV genotype, viral load, and specific viral mutations have been documented to be associated with the response to IFN-α and Peg-IFN-α.…”