High resolution HLA-DRB1 analysis and shared molecular amino acid signature of DRβ1 molecules in Occult hepatitis B infection

Abstract

Aim To investigate the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles and the variations of polymorphic amino acid changes in DRβ1 chain in Shaanxi Han population with Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Methods High-resolution HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed in 107 OBI carriers and 280 normal controls. Sequence information was used to assign which amino acids were encoded at all polymorphic positions. Three-dimensional modeling was performed to explore the effect of the key residues on the HLA-DRB1 molecule. Results Strong susceptible association for allele DRB1*07:01 was observed in OBI carriers. The amino acid variation at HLA-DRβ1 molecule revealed susceptible associations for residues Gln4β, Val57β(P9), Ser60β(P9) and Val78β(P4), the amino acids Arg4β, Asp57β(P9), Tyr60β(P9) and Tyr78β(P4) showed protective associations. Conclusion Alleles DRB1*07:01 showed strong susceptible associations in OBI carriers. The amino acid variations in DRβ molecules revealed significant molecular markers for susceptibility and protection from OBI in Shaanxi Han population.

Molecular Analysis of HLA Genes in Romanian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

“…Another allele with potential protective roles against hepatitis B infection in Romanians is HLA-DRB1*15:01:01, a finding consistent with research done on other populations. A recent study on the Chinese population by Wang et al indicated that HLA-DRB1*15:01 was more prevalent in the control group than in occult hepatitis B virus infection carriers [26]. Similarly, studies on the same population by Yang et al identified HLA-DRB1*15 as the only allele linked to viral clearance [27].…”

“…Amino acid variations in class II HLA have been documented as significant factors in various infectious diseases, including CHB [48]. Several reports show that HLA-DRB1 leucine at position 26 displays a positive association with the HBV vaccine response, while arginine at position 4, aspartic acid at position 57, and tyrosine at position 60 and position 78 exhibit a strong protective effect against occult hepatitis B infection [26,49]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on amino-acid residues in HLA class II and CHB in the Romanian population.…”