Genetic Variation in the IL-6 and HLA-DQB1 Genes Is Associated with Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Host and Viral Factors Influencing Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Across Three Generations in a Family

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is influenced by both virological and host factors. A total of 5,920 CHB patients were classified into four groups based on HBV seromarkers: three-generation families (CHB grandmother, mother, and child), two-generation families (CHB mother/child pairs), individuals recovered from HBV infection, and a control group. Serological markers, viral load, liver function tests (LFT), HBV mutations, HLA-DQ variations, cytokine polymorphisms, and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were analyzed using FibroScan. Point mutations in genes such as core/pre-core (G1896A/G1899A), polymerase (H248N, H267Q, N263D), S (G145R, S143L), and X (C1500T, T1464C) were observed in 30% of three-generation pairs and 20% of two-generation pairs. The three-generation group exhibited the highest mean liver stiffness measurement (LSM) (4.94 ± 1.24 kPa), which is considered a predictor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Subsequent HLA allele analysis identified HLA-DQB105:01 (OR = 0.27) as a risk factor for treatment resistance, while HLA-DQB105 (OR = 0.98), HLA-DQB103 (OR = 0.80), and HLA-DQB104:01 (OR = 0.70) were associated with HBV persistence in both three- and two-generation groups. Higher frequencies of specific polymorphisms, including G/G (TNF-α: 75%; IL-18: 74%), A/A (IL-10: 74.28%), and C/C (IL-1ß: 80%), were significantly linked to persistent infection. Analysis of viral sequences, HLA-DQB1 variations, cytokine polymorphisms, and genetic relationships within the phylogenetic tree revealed that 40% of CHB patients from three-generation families were infected by a shared source of transmission, as indicated by the presence of the same HBV genotype. This study underscores the complex interplay of host and viral factors that influence hepatitis B infection outcomes and suggests potential familial transmission pathways.

Association of HLADQ-B1 polymorphisms in three generations of chronic hepatitis B patients

The presence of polymorphisms in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1 gene, along with its expression, has been demonstrated to be correlated with spontaneous clearance and susceptibility to HBV infection. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible role of genetic polymorphisms in HLA-DQB1 in three generations of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Based on the inclusion criteria, 90 CHB patients, 18 individuals recovered from HBV infection, and 40 healthy subjects were chosen. The DNA contents of the whole blood samples were extracted in order to perform HLA-DQB1 typing by the PCR technique. Besides whole blood samples, sera were applied to measure liver function tests (LFTs), as well as the titers of anti-HDV and anti-HCV. Also, in all CHB patients were measured liver stiffness (LSM) by Fibro Scan. The results of HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms (rs2856718 and rs7453920) demonstrated that the majority of polymorphisms in CHB patients were HLA-DQB1*03, HLA-DQB1*05, HLA-DQB1*04:01 and HLA-DQB1*03:01 that associated with HBV persistence and chronicity. Among the patients who showed these polymorphisms, the mean±SD, LSM was 4±1.57 KPa and most of them, F grade was reported as F2, which was a sign of disease progression towards chronicity. HLA polymorphisms imputation revealed that HLA-DQB1*06:04 (3.4%, P-Value= 0.2) was detected only in healthy subjects as protective polymorphism, while the allele HLA-DQB1*03:03 was reported in both healthy subjects (P-Value= 0.06) and recovered patients (P-Value= 0.1) as suppressor of CHB formation. The allele HLA-DQB1*05:02 was found in both healthy subjects (3.4%) and CHB patients (4.5%) which was associated with risk to liver cirrhosis (P-Value= 0, OR: 0.002 0.95CI: 0.000-0.15). HLA polymorphism analysis indicated that 17.39% of patients who were seropositive for anti-HCV carried the HLA-DQB1*03:01. HBV resistance or infection risk could be assessed by DBQ1 typing. The existence of polymorphisms in HLA gene could influence the clearance (HLA-DQB1*03:03) or susceptibility and persistence of infection (HLA-DQB1*03, HLA-DQB1*05, HLA-DQB1*04:01 and HLA-DQB1*03:01). These results have the potential to improve personalized therapy and prognosis for HBV infection.

The roles of HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphisms in hepatitis B virus infection

Background

Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an independent risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, polymorphisms in HLA-DQB1 play an important role in HBV infections.

Methods

This study examined the relationships between HLA-DQB1 alleles and HBV infection susceptibility among 256 HBV carriers and 433 healthy controls. Venous blood samples were subjected to DQB1 high-resolution typing and testing for interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10, and DQB1 mRNA expression. A meta-analysis was also performed using relevant case–control studies that evaluated the associations of HLA-DQB1 alleles with HBV infection and clearance.

Results

We found that HLA-DQB1*06:03 protected against HBV infection. Levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were significantly elevated in HBV cases with HLA-DQB1*06:05 (vs. HLA-DQB1*05:03), and the HBV group had higher DQB1 mRNA expression than the healthy control group with HLA-DQB1*05:03 and HLA-DQB1*06:02. The meta-analysis revealed that HLA-DQB1*04:01, HLA-DQB1*05:02, HLA-DQB1*05:03, and HLA-DQB1*06:01 were risk factors for HBV infection susceptibility, while HLA-DQB1*05:01, HLA-DQB1*06:03, and HLA-DQB1*06:04 protected against HBV infection. Spontaneous HBV clearance was associated withHLA-DQB1*06:04, while chronic HBV infection was associated with HLA-DQB1*02:01 and HLA-DQB1*05:02.

Conclusion

DBQ1 typing can be used to identify patients who have elevated risks of HBV infection (i.e., patients with HLA-DQB1*04:01, HLA-DQB1*05:02, HLA-DQB1*05:03, and HLA-DQB1*06:01) or elevated risks of chronic HBV infection (i.e., patients with HLA-DQB1*02:01 and HLA-DQB1*05:02).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1716-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The association of LMP7 and TAP2 gene polymorphisms with treatment response to interferon/ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C

Previous studies have highlighted the important role of genes related to antigen presentation in the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus. The present study aimed to explore the association between TAP, LMP and tapasin gene polymorphism and treatment response in chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) patients. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms in TAP, LMP and tapasin genes were genotyped among 352 Chinese genotype 1 CHC patients with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (pegIFN-α/RBV) treatment. There were 232 cases achieving sustained virological response (SVR), which yielded an SVR rate of 65.9%. LMP7 rs2071543 variant genotypes [additive model: odds ratio (OR), 0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.33-0.82; P=0.005] and TAP2 rs1800454 variant genotypes (additive model: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45‑0.98; P=0.039) were suggested to decrease the possibility of achieving an SVR. After conducting combined effect analysis of rs2071543 and rs1800454, the authors found that the SVR rate was lower among patients carrying more unfavorable rs1800454-A and rs2071543-A alleles, and the SVR rate of carrying 3-4 alleles was 20%. In addition, carrying two unfavorable alleles led to significantly decreased possibility for SVR (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.14-0.61; P=0.001). Multivariate stepwise analysis indicated that rs2071543, rs1800454, glucose, α-fetoprotein, platelets and baseline viral load were risk factors of SVR that were independent of each other. The area under the curve (AUC) consisting of all the above factors produced an AUC of 0.704 (95% CI, 0.647‑0.761; P<0.001). The line charts indicated that the drop in viral load was significantly faster in GG patients than in GC/CC patients during the whole therapy, which was in accordance with the decline of viral load in rs2071543. The present study illustrated that the carriage of LMP7 rs2071543-AA and TAP2 rs1800454-AA had a negative effect on treatment response to pegIFN-α/RBV among genotype 1 patient with CHC in a Chinese Han population.

Virologic and Immunologic Characteristics in Mature Ducks with Acute Duck Hepatitis A Virus 1 Infection

Duck hepatitis A virus 1 (DHAV-1) infection in mature ducks has previously been proposed as a small-animal model for human hepatitis A. However, basic research on the outcome of DHAV-1 infection in mature ducks is limited. Here, we examined the course of viremia, the characteristics of antibody responses, and the profiles of plasma cytokines in mature ducks infected with DHAV-1. During the course of infection, the viremia was detectable soon after infection and persisted for 196 days, however, the ducks presented as clinically asymptomatic. Specific and timely immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA1 responses were elicited. At the same time, extensive inhibition of viral replication was observed with increasing IgG concentration. With respect to pattern-recognition receptors, TLR-7 was mainly involved in triggering the innate defense against the DHAV-1 infection. In addition, plasma immune analytes were measured and were determined to have bidirectional roles in virus clearance. It was concluded that DHAV-1 spreads quickly in blood. The spontaneous clearance of DHAV-1 during asymptomatic infection in mature ducks depends on the cooperation of timely antibody responses and alert innate immune responses. Moreover, the delayed clearance may be associated with a weak interferon-γ-producing CD8+ T cell response. This study allows us to reveal the mechanism of clearance and persistence of DHAV-1 infection in mature ducks. We anticipate that it will provide a basis for future studies focused on defining the nature mechanisms involved in the clearance and persistence of human hepatitis virus.

Role of TLRs and IL-6 in the outcome of chronic hepatitis C treatment in Tunisian population

OBJECTIVES

TLRs are one of the most studied families of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and play a pivotal role during HCV infection. The binding of ligands to TLRs on antigen presenting cells (APCs) leads to secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL6, and induction of the acquired immunity response. Therefore, it has become necessarily to harness the TLRs properties' on therapeutically tools to enhance the HCV treatment response. Herein, we investigated the association between TLR3, TLR4 variants and nine IL-6 polymorphisms, and response to anti-viral treatment during HCV infection.

METHODS

Study subjects comprised 120 patients infected with HCV-1b and treated with Peg-IFN/RBV. Genotyping of nine IL-6 variants were done by real -time PCR and genotyping of TLRs polymorphisms were done by RFLP-PCR.

RESULTS

High frequency of TLR3 rs3775290 C/C genotype and TLR4 rs4986790 A/A genotype were noticed among patients with sustained viral response compared to Non-responder patients. The genetic association of TLR3 and TLR4 variants was evidenced by the improvement in the kinetics of viral load decline, with superiority of TLR3 compared to TLR4. Among, nine polymorphisms studied on IL-6 only rs1800796, rs2069845 and rs1880242 were associated with sustained viral response. Our study reports also that the common favourable IL-28B variant is essential for TLR-activated antiviral protection.

CONCLUSION

TLR3 and TLR4 are involved in the pathogenesis of viral infections. TLR3 may be better suited than TLR4 to activate anti-viral program. Moreover, we propose that the Th2 cytokine, IL-6, constitutes a determinant of the outcome of therapy in HCV patients.

The Expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in Respiratory Viral Infection in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Viral infection is a common trigger for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of cytokines in AECOPD. Patients with AECOPD requiring hospitalization were recruited. Meanwhile healthy volunteers of similar age that accepted routine check-ups and showed no clinical symptoms of inflammatory diseases were also recruited. Induced sputum and serum were collected. Induced sputum of participants was processed and tested for thirteen viruses and bacteria. Forty cytokines were assayed in serum using the Quantibody Human Inflammation Array 3 (Ray Biotech, Inc.). The most common virus detected in virus positive AECOPD (VP) was influenza A (16%). No virus was found in controls. Circulating levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 were elevated in VP and coinfection subjects (p < 0.05), while the levels of 37 other cytokines showed no difference, compared with virus negative groups and controls (p > 0.05). Additionally, VP patients were less likely to have received influenza vaccination. VP patients had a systemic inflammation response involving IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 which may be due to virus-induced activation of macrophages. There are important opportunities for further investigating AECOPD mechanisms and for the development of better strategies in the management and prevention of virus-related AECOPD.