Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2005; 11(46): 7302-7307
Published online Dec 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i46.7302
Human leukocyte antigen class II DQB1*0301, DRB1*1101 alleles and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: A meta-analysis
Xin Hong, Rong-Bin Yu, Nan-Xiong Sun, Bin Wang, Yao-Chu Xu, Guan-Ling Wu
Xin Hong, Yao-Chu Xu, Rong-Bin Yu, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Nan-Xiong Sun, Research Laboratory for infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Bin Wang, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Guan-Ling Wu, Department of Microbiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30200232
Correspondence to: Rong-Bin Yu, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. rongbinyu@njmu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-25-86862815 Fax: +86-25-86527613
Received: April 15, 2005
Revised: July 13, 2005
Accepted: July 15, 2005
Published online: December 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To assess the associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQB1*0301 and/or DRB1*1101 allele with spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance by meta-analysis of individual dataset from all studies published till date.

METHODS: To clarify the impact of HLA class II polymorphisms on viral clearance, we performed a meta-analysis of the published data from 11 studies comparing the frequencies of DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 alleles in individuals with spontaneous resolution to those with persistent infection. As we identified the heterogeneity between studies, summary statistical data were calculated based on a random-effect model.

RESULTS: Meta-analyses yielded summary estimates-odds ratio (OR) of 2.36 [95%CI (1.62, 3.43), P<0.00001] and 2.02 [95%CI (1.56, 2.62), P<0.00001] for the effects of DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 alleles on spontaneous clearance of HCV, respectively.

CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that specific HLA class II alleles might influence the susceptibility or resistance to persistent HCV infection. Both DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1101 are protective alleles and present HCV epitopes more effectively to CD4+T lymphocytes than others, and subjects with these two alleles are at a lower risk of developing chronic HCV infection. Large, multi-ethnic confirmatory and well-designed studies are needed to determine the host genetic determinants of HCV infection.

Keywords: Human leukocyte antigen, Genetic polymorphism, DQB1*0301, DRB1*1101, Hepatitis C virus, Spontaneous clearance, Meta-analysis