HLA-DRB1 genotyping and its relation with chronic HBV infection in patients

AIM: To study the HLA-DRB1 genotype and their relation with HBV infection in Shaanxi Han patients. METHODS: HLA-DRB1 genotyping was conducted in 108 case of chronic HBV infection and 108 health controls as well as 32 asymtomatic HBsAg carriers by using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer method. All the patients, asymtomatic HBsAg carriers and health subjects were residents of Shaanxi district and belonged to Han nationality. The association between HLA-DRB1 genotype and different replication of HBV was also studied. RESULTS: DRB1*04, DRB1*09, DRB1*12 and DRB1*15 were the most common genotypes in Shaanxi Han residents with the frequency of 16.2%, 12.5%, 11.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Compared to 108 health controls, the allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*03 (10.6% of HBV patients versus 3.7% of health controls, odds ratio=3.10; P<0.05) and HLA-DRB1*07 (17.6% of HBV patients versus 9.3% of health controls, odd ratio=2.09; P<0.05) were markedly higher. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*15 (13.4% of HBV patients versus 6.9% of health controls, odds ratio=0.48; P<0.05) was obviously lower than than in HBV patients. CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1*03 and HLA-DRB1*07 are closely related with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B infection, and DRB1*15 is closely related with resistance to chronic hepatitis B infection. These finding suggest that host HLA class II gene is an important factor determining the outcome of HBV infection.