CCR5-Δ32 genotype does not improve predictive value of IL28B polymorphisms for treatment response in chronic HCV infection

Genes Immun. 2013 Jul-Aug;14(5):286-90. doi: 10.1038/gene.2013.15. Epub 2013 Apr 18.

Abstract

IL28B polymorphisms strongly predict spontaneous and treatment-induced clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A recent study proposed a 32-base pair deletion in the CC-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene (CCR5-Δ32) interacting with the IL28B polymorphisms to influence spontaneous HCV clearance. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of CCR5-Δ32 in treatment-induced clearance of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). A cross-sectional cohort of 813 Caucasian patients with CHC genotype 1 (365 responders and 448 non-responders) who had received standard of care dual therapy with interferon (IFN)-α and ribavirin (RBV) was genotyped for the CCR5-Δ32 and IL28B polymorphisms to examine their interaction with respect to treatment response. CCR5-Δ32 did not influence treatment-induced recovery to IFN-α/RBV in CHC, and did not improve prediction of sustained virological response in the context of the IL28B polymorphisms in a multivariate model. CCR5-Δ32 homozygotes were significantly more frequent in those with CHC than healthy controls in the European cohorts (2.9% vs 0.4%, P<0.0001), but not in Australians of European ancestry. In conclusion, CCR5-Δ32 does not influence treatment response in the context of IL28B polymorphisms. Although CCR5-Δ32 may affect viral clearance within closely controlled geographical and genetic environments, we found no effect in larger cohorts treated with dual therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Australia
  • Base Sequence
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / ethnology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Interferons
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics*
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Sequence Deletion*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • CCR5 protein, human
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukins
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons