HLA-B Alleles B*15:01 and B*15:02: Opposite Association with Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chinese Voluntary Blood Donors

Abstract

Background: Although human leukocyte antigens (HLA) have been shown in association with the outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among different ethnic groups, such studies remain absent in China, where the HCV prevalence is higher than the global average. Methods: In this study, 426 HCV-infected and 709 uninfected blood donors were analyzed, among whom the HLA alleles were sequenced using a high-resolution genotyping method. Results: At the 2-digit level, none of the alleles showed a statistical difference between the HCV-infected and uninfected groups. However, at the 4-digit level, the HLA-B alleles B*15:01 and B*15:02 showed an opposite association with HCV infection, i.e. B*15:01 was significantly higher in the HCV-infected group (odds ratio, OR = 1.561, p = 0.010), while B*15:02 was significantly higher in the uninfected group (OR = 0.778, p = 0.016). We also identified a higher frequency of B*13:02 in the HCV-infected group (OR = 1.515, p = 0.009) and a higher frequency of B*07:05 in the uninfected group (OR = 0.299, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The frequencies of four HLA alleles, B*07:05, B*13:02, B*15:01, and B*15:02, were found to be significantly different between the HCV-infected and uninfected blood donors in China, revealing an inverse relation of B*15:01 and B*15:02 with HCV infection. This finding suggests that the ethnic genetic variations of HLA may greatly affect the host immune responses against HCV.

Association of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus in the Chinese population

“…In our previous study we have reported the association of HLA with HCV infection and spontaneous clearance in a cohort of Chinese blood donors . In this study, we further examined the association of KIR and KIR‐HLA with HCV spontaneous clearance in the context of IL28B polymorphism.…”

“…However, few studies have evaluated differences in the native immune responses to infection between different populations. In this study, we aim to identify the role of KIR genes, genotypes, and KIR‐HLA on HCV spontaneous clearance in a cohort of HCV‐infected voluntary Chinese blood donors recruited in our previous studies …”

Association of HLA‐DQB1*03:01 and DRB1*11:01 with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus in Chinese Li ethnicity, an ethnic group genetically distinct from Chinese Han ethnicity and infected with unique HCV subtype

“…HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DPB1, DQB1, DRB1) alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction–sequencing based typing (PCR‐SBT) as previously described . In brief, genomic DNAs from each study subject were extracted from 1 mL whole blood in automated MagNA Pure LC 2.0 instrument (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) using MagNA Pure LC DNA Isolation Kit (Roche Diagnostics), following the manufacturer's instruction.…”

“…HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DPB1, DQB1, DRB1) alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction-sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT) as previously described. 17,19 In brief, genomic DNAs from each study subject were extracted from 1 mL whole blood in The HLA alleles were assigned at a 4-digit level using the ASSIGN 3.5 software (Conexio Genomics, Perth, WA, Australia). Any ambiguous HUANG ET AL.…”

High Frequency of Human Leukocyte Antigen-B*57:01 Allele Carriers among HIV-Infected Patients in Serbia

“…This discrepancy implies a role of additional genetic risk factors in abacavir-related HSR. Apart from abacavir HSR, the presence of HLA-B * 57: 01 in HIV-infected patients has been implicated in slower disease progression, although the risk of progression may vary among patients carrying this allele, as also shown for HLA alleles in other viral infections, such as hepatitis C [28] . Further, a recent study of HLA-related mate choice implied its behavioral relevance in humans, with HLA similarity affecting different aspects of partnership [29] .…”