Relationship of human leukocyte antigen class II genes with the susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and the response to interferon in HBV-infected patients

Abstract

The polymorphism of HLA class II may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with other HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1*06, DRB1*08, and DRB1*16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1*07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1*14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment. Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1*07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN.

Evaluation of a histocompatibility antigen related to hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the western Brazilian Amazon

“…Various types of HLA molecules have different abilities to connect with and present tumor antigens. We have demonstrated the association of specific HLA alleles susceptible to HBV-related HCC, whereas most previous studies have focused on susceptibility and resistance to chronic hepatitis B (Han et al, 2005). Ramezani et al (2008) showed that HLA-A*33 is strongly related to susceptibility to hepatitis B persistence and that HLA-DRB*13 is strongly related to protection against hepatitis B persistence in a cross-section of the Iranian population.…”

HLA-DRB1*010101 Allele Is Closely Associated with Poor Virological Response to Lamivudine Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

“…However, most of them suggested that HLA-DRB1 alleles were related to clearance or chronicity of HBV infection, without demonstration of any relationship of these alleles with the response to antiviral therapies. Although several HLA-DRB1 alleles associated with interferon therapy in CHB patients have been reported [12,13], there has been no report about the association between a specific HLA-DRB1 allele and the treatments with oral nucleoside analogue in CHB patients in the literature. Second, with regard to the HBV genotype, HBV genotype C is much more prevalent in East Asia including Korea, and is associated with poor prognosis in CHB patients than other HBV genotypes [19].…”

“…Especially, the HLA-DRB1 allele that is designated as polymorphic allele in HLA-class II, has been found to have pivotal roles in determining the outcomes of HBV infection [5]. However, the relationship between HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms and responsiveness to oral nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is currently unclear, although an association between specific HLA-DRB1 and the responsiveness to interferon therapy in CHB patients has been reported [12,13]. …”

The Expression of CD2 in Chronic HBV Infection

“…In addition, the levels of HBV DNA, which were considered the molecular biological parameter of the HBV infection and reflected the level of the virus replication in vivo, was determined by the real-time FQ-PCR (24)(25)(26)(27)(28), and the result showed that the logarithm averages of the levels of HBV DNA in positive serum samples had not significant difference among the three chronic HBV infection groups (p > 0.05). This result suggested that HBV may not be a direct cause of the liver damage, but the immune response of host to HBV might damage the infected liver cells as well as eliminate HBV.…”

“…T cells activated by interaction with complex of CD2 and CD58 would increase the transcription and translation of IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA, and then differentiate into Th1 which would enhance the cellular immune response. Binding with CD2 molecules on the surface of NK cells, CD58 would activate NK cells and increase the cytotoxic effect (25). This might contribute to the elimination of HBV.…”