IL21 and IL21R polymorphisms and their interactive effects on serum IL-21 and IgE levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Hum Immunol. 2013 May;74(5):567-73. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2013.01.005. Epub 2013 Jan 24.

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-21 may affect both T-cell and B-cell responses and was suggested to be involved in response to HBV infection. This study explored IL21rs907715 and rs2221903 and IL21R T-83C and rs3093301 polymorphisms and serum IL-21 and IgE levels in 395 patients with chronic HBV infection, 75 HBV infection resolvers and 174 healthy controls. IL21R T-83C was not polymorphic in the study populations. IL21 rs2221903 AG was less frequent in HBV patients than in resolvers (p<0.001, OR=0.364, 95% CI=0.211-0.629) or in controls (p=0.017, OR=0.589, 95% CI=0.381-0.911). IL21R rs3093301 TT was more frequent in HBV patients than in controls [p value after Bonferroni correction (pc)=0.022, OR=1.908, 95% CI=1.158-3.142] and more frequent in resolvers than in controls (pc=0.010, OR=2.965, 95% CI 1.375-6.392). The carriage of IL21 rs2221903 AG/IL21R rs3093301 CT+IL21 rs2221903 AG/IL21R rs3093301 TT was less frequent in patients than in resolvers (pc=0.007, OR=0.236, 95% CI=0.096-0.579) and more frequent in resolvers than in controls (pc=0.014, OR=4.354, 95% CI=1.660-11.420). IL21 rs2221903 was, by interaction with IL21R rs3093301, associated with serum IL-21 and IgE levels in HBV patients. It is suggested that IL21 rs2221903 and IL21R rs3093301 polymorphisms may, independently or interactively, affect the susceptibility to and/or persistence of HBV infection potentially through altering IL-21 and IgE production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Interleukins / blood
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Interleukins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • interleukin-21