The IL7RA rs6897932 polymorphism is associated with progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Repeated measurements design

Abstract

The polymorphisms at the α-chain of the IL-7 receptor (IL7RA) have been related to T-cell homeostasis and development and may contribute to immune system deregulation. In the present study, we analyzed the association between IL7RA polymorphisms and the progression of liver fibrosis in patients infected with HCV. We carried out a retrospective study with a design consisting of repeated measurements in 187 HCV-infected patients, to study the risk prediction of liver fibrosis progression using genetic factors. We genotyped the rs6897932, rs987106 and rs3194051 IL7RA polymorphisms using the Agena Bioscience’s MassARRAY. Transient elastography was used to measure liver stiffness. The used cut-offs were: <7.1 kPa (F0-F1), 7.1–9.4 kPa (F2; significant fibrosis), 9.5-12.4 kPa (F3; advanced fibrosis), and ≥12.5 kPa (F4; cirrhosis). All HCV genotypes were analyzed. The median of follow-up time was 47.9 months. Baseline liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values did not show significant statistical differences for IL7RA genotypes (p>0.05). In univariate analysis, the rs6897932 T allele had a positive relationship with an increase in LSM (arithmetic mean ratio (AMR) = 1.21 (95%CI = 1.08; 1.36); p = 0.001), progression to advanced fibrosis (F≥3) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.51 (95%CI = 1.29; 4.88); p = 0.006) and progression to cirrhosis (F4) (OR = 2.71 (95%CI = 0.94; 5.03); p = 0.069). In multivariable analysis, the rs6897932 T allele was related to a higher increase of LSM values during follow-up (adjusted AMR = 1.27 (95%CI = 1.13; 1.42); p<0.001) and higher odds of progression to advanced fibrosis [adjusted OR = 4.46 (95%CI = 1.87; 10.62); p = 0.001], and progression to cirrhosis [adjusted OR = 3.92 (95%CI = 1.30; 11.77); p = 0.015]. Regarding IL7RA rs987106 and rs3194051 polymorphisms, we did not find significant results except for the relationship between IL7RA rs987106 and the increase in LSM values [adjusted OR = 1.12 (95%CI = 1.02; 1.23); p = 0.015]. The IL7RA rs6897932 polymorphism seems to be related to increased risk of liver fibrosis progression in HCV-infected patients. Thus, the rs6897932 polymorphism could be related to the physiopathology of CHC and might be used to successfully stratify the risk of CHC progression.

TRPM5 rs886277 Polymorphism Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis Progression in Non-Cirrhotic HCV-Infected Patients

“…Transient elastography was used to assay the hepatic fibrosis using a FibroScan (Echosens, Paris, France) by a trained physician, as we previously described [ 35 ]. LSM ranged from 2.5–75 kPa.…”

Impact of DARC rs12075 Variants on Liver Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Retrospective Study

“…The information of each patient was collected from medical records, as described previously [28], which included demographic, clinical, virological, and laboratory data. The clinic management of patients during the follow-up was performed according to clinical guidelines [29,30].…”

“…Other SNPs analyzed in this population have been previously reported regarding their association with fibrosis progression: PNPLA3 rs738409 [32], MERTK rs4374383 [33], and IL7RA rs6897932 [28].…”

“…The LSM was evaluated by transient elastography (FibroScan ® , Echosens, Paris, France) with a single machine and by a trained hepatologist as previously described by us [28]. Measurements were expressed in kilopascals (kPa) and considered reliable when the interquartile range-to-median ratio for at least ten successful measurements was lower than 0.30.…”

“…The GLM tests were adjusted by the most relevant clinical and epidemiological variables by using the stepwise algorithm (at each step, covariables with a p -value < 0.20 are considered for entry). The covariables used were gender, age, time since HCV diagnosis, diabetes, high alcohol intake, HCV genotype, injection drug use, baseline LSM, HCV antiviral therapy before baseline, HCV antiviral therapy during the follow-up (patients who failed therapy), time of follow-up, and other SNPs previously reported in this study population ( PNPLA3 rs738409 [32], MERTK rs4374383 [33], and IL7RA rs6897932 [28]).…”