Background: The CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 (CXCL9-11) chemokines play a critical role in eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), although HCV-specific immunity often fails to eradicate the HCV, allowing the chronicity of hepatitis C.
Objective: To examine the association between CXCL9-11 polymorphisms and the sustained virological response (SVR) following hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Study design: We performed a retrospective study in 176 naïve patients who started HCV treatment. The CXCL9 rs10336, CXCL10 rs3921 and CXCL11 rs4619915 polymorphisms were genotyped by GoldenGate(®) assay. Genetic data were analyzed under recessive inheritance model. The SVR was defined as undetectable HCV viremia through 24 weeks after the end of HCV treatment.
Results: In the intention-to-treat analysis, the SVR rate was higher in HCV genotype 1/4 (GT1/4) patients carrying rs10336 TT (p=0.042), rs3921 GG (p=0.021), and rs4619915 AA (p=0.024) genotypes; and they had higher likelihood of achieving SVR (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=3.26 (p=0.038), aOR=4.21 (p=0.019), and aOR=4.08 (p=0.022), respectively). For CXCL haplotype analysis (CXCL9/rs10336, CXCL10/rs3921, and CXCL11/rs4619915), the TGA haplotype (favorable alleles) had better odds of achieving SVR than the CCG haplotype (unfavorable alleles) in GT1/4patients (OR=2.69; p=0.003). No significant results were found in GT2/3 patients. Moreover, similar results were obtained in the on-treatment analysis.
Conclusions: The presence of homozygous for the minor allele of CXCL9 rs10336, CXCL10 rs3921 and CXCL11 rs4619915 was related to higher likelihoods of achieving the HCV clearance after pegIFNα/ribavirin therapy in HIV infected patients coinfected with HCV GT1/4.
Keywords: CXCL; Chronic hepatitis C; HCV therapy; HIV/AIDS; SNPs.
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