Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) gene are predictors for treatment success in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. For direct-acting antiviral combinations only weak association with IFNL4 SNPs was observed. Little is known about potential selections of resistance-associated variants (RAVs) by the IFNL4 genotype. This study analyzed the prevalence of RAVs to currently approved direct-acting antivirals in a large European population in correlation to SNPs in IFNL4. Samples of 633 patients chronically infected with HCV genotypes 1a (n = 259), 1b (n = 323), and 3 (n = 51) were genotyped for rs12979860 (formerly known as IL28B) and rs368234815. RAVs in NS3, NS5A, and NS5B were detected by population-based sequencing. In addition, IFNL4 SNPs and NS5A RAVs were analyzed including deep sequencing (n = 109) in an independent replication cohort of HCV genotype 1-infected patients (n = 201). No significant correlation was found between IFNL4 SNPs and rare and common RAVs within NS3 and NS5B. In contrast, the NS5A RAV Y93H was detected frequently in HCV genotype 1b (14%) and significantly associated with the beneficial IFNL4 SNPs (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Moreover, the presence of Y93H in HCV genotype 1b patients was significantly associated with the second site variant T83M (P < 0.001). Independent factors significantly associated with the presence of Y93H were IFNL4 genotype and high baseline viral load.
Conclusion: The NS5A RAV Y93H is significantly associated with the presence of beneficial IFNL4 SNPs and a high baseline viral load in HCV genotype 1-infected patients, which may explain a lack of correlation or even an inverse correlation of treatment response with IFNL4 genotype in some NS5A inhibitor containing IFN-free regimens.
© 2015 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.