KIR3DS1/HLA-B Bw4-80Ile Genotype Is Correlated with the IFN-α Therapy Response in hepatitis B e antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract

To date, several on-treatment-level virological and serological indices that may predict the response to interferon alpha (IFN-α) have been reported. However, no effective predictors, such as drug–response genes, that can be detected before administration of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapy with IFN-α, have been found. In the diverse range of chronic viral infection, genes that affect human immunity play important roles in understanding host and viral co-evolution. Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), which are highly polymorphic at the allele and haplotype levels, participate in the antiviral function of natural killer (NK) cells via fine-tuning inhibition and activation of NK-cell responses that occur when the NK cells interact with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on target cells. For each individual, the pairing of KIR and HLA ligand is genetically determined. To investigate whether a particular KIR and HLA repertoire influences the risk of HBV infection and response to IFN-α treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), we genotyped the KIRs and HLA ligands of 119 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients. These patients included 43 patients who achieved sustained response (SR) induced by IFN-α treatment for 48 weeks, 76 patients who achieved no response (NR), and 96 healthy subjects as controls. SR was defined as HBeAg loss with HBV DNA < 2,000 IU/ml and alanine aminotransferase normalization at 24 weeks posttreatment (week 72). In this study, we showed that activating KIR genes were less prevalent in Han Chinese, especially in Han Chinese with CHB, than in Caucasians. Furthermore, the KIR3DS1 gene, in combination with HLA-B Bw4-80Ile, strongly influenced the therapeutic outcomes for CHB patients who were treated with IFN-α. The frequency of the combination of genes encoding KIR3DS1 and HLA-B Bw4-80Ile was higher in patients who had a sustained treatment response than in patients who had NR [35.3 versus 1.3%; odds ratio (OR) = 19.85; P = 0.0008]. Activating KIR3DS1 and HLA-B Bw4-80Ile synergistically predicted SR to IFN-α for HBeAg-positive CHB patients. Genotyping for the KIR3DS1 gene and the HLA-B Bw4-80Ile allele might help physicians choose the optimal candidates for anti-HBV treatment with IFN-α.

Taurocholic acid inhibits the response to interferon-α therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B by impairing CD8+ T and NK cell function

“…Based on the curative effects in patients at the 24-week posttreatment (week 72) follow-up, HBeAg-positive CHB patients were divided into the SR ( n = 18) and nonresponse (NR; n = 19) groups. An SR was defined according to previous studies 25 , 26 as HBeAg < 1 S/CO, HBV DNA < 500 IU/ml, and ALT < 40 U/L. Patients were categorized as having a NR if they did not meet all of the above criteria.…”

Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of Human Leukocyte Antigen complex for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

“…A good clinical outcome is associated with high-solution HLA-matching in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation 12, 13. HAL-B Bw4-80lle, combined with the KIR3DS1 gene, can significantly affect outcomes of chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with alpha interferon 14. It had been documented that HLA-G , a nonclassical HLA class I molecule, positivity was related to the disease in breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer and malignant melanoma, also indicating differential expressions in lobular and ductal subtypes 15.…”

A novel TRIM22 gene polymorphism promotes the response to PegIFNα therapy through cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway in chronic hepatitis B

“…Patients were included in the CR group if they had HBV DNA <500 IU/mL and were HBeAg negative or demonstrated serological conversion and/or HBsAg clearance. Patients were included in the SR group if they had HBeAg >1 COI or HBV DNA >2,000 IU/mL or ALT >upper limit of normal at the 24 weeks post-treatment follow-up visit (week 72) ( 2 , 5 , 26 ). Sex and serological markers before PegIFNα treatment are shown in Table S1.…”