Z Gastroenterol 2015; 53 - P63
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1551751

Usefulness of interferon Lambda-4, HLA Class II Polymorphysims and Killer-Immunglobuline-Like Recptor-2DL3:C1/C1 to predict spontaneous clearance of acute Hepatitis C virus infection

S Beinhardt 1, M Mandorfer 1, BA Payer 1, AF Stättermayer 1
  • 1Medizinische Universität Wien; Innere Medizin III, Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Wien, Austria

Background & Aims: Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection (AHC) largely depends on the patient's immuno-genetic background. Besides IL-28B (rs12979860), Interferon-Α4/rs469415590- and HLA-class-II/rs4273729 polymorphisms (PMs) as well as the detectability of killer-cell-immunoglobulin-like-receptor with it's ligands (KIR)2DL3:HLA-C1/C1 might influence spontaneous clearance (SC) of AHC. We aimed to investigate if these genetic factors predict SC in patients with acute HCV-infection.

Patients & Methods: IL-28B/rs12979860-, IFNΑ4/rs469415590- and HLA-class-II/rs4273729 polymorphisms were determined in 163 patients (m/f: 97/66; age: 34.7 ± 14.9 years [mean ± SD; SC: N = 73). Presence of KIR2DL3:C1/C1 was evaluated in 100 AHC-patients (m/f: 55/45; age: 35 ± 15years [mean ± SD]; SC: N = 61). In addition 96 healthy individuals (healthy control [HCo]) were examined. IL28B-, interferonΑ4- and HLA-class-II-PMs were analyzed by StepOnePlus-Real-Time-PCR. Presence of KIR2DL3:C1/C1 was determined by use of a commercial kit [HistoSpot, BAG, Lich, Germany].

Results: Since IFNΑ4-TT/TT and IL-28B C/C (rs12979860) genotypes were overlapping, both were equally predictive for spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection (IFNΑ4-TT/TT&IL28B-C/C: SC: N = 50/73 (68.5%) vs. non-SC: N = 45/90 (50%); P = 0.025). Both SNP's were more frequent in patients with SC compared to the healthy controls (SC: 50/73 (68.5%) vs. HCo: 38/96 (39.6%); P < 0.001). Neither the favorable HLA-II/rs4273729-genotype G/G (SC: N = 31/73 (42.5%) vs. non-SC: 29/90 (32.2%); P = 0.19) nor the detectability of KIR2DL3:HLA-C1/C1 (SC: N = 20/61 (32.8%) vs. non-SC: N = 10/39 (25.6%); P = 0.5) were found to be associated with SC.

Conclusion: Polymorphisms within IFN-Α4 or HLA-class-II as well as the detectability of KIR2DL3:C1/C1 could not improve predictability of SC in AHC-patients compared to the determination of IL28B/rs12979860 alone. Thus, their determination does not provide additional benefit to identify patients who will clear HCV spontaneously.