HLA class II genes determine the natural variance of hepatitis C viral load

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes and the natural fluctuations in hepatitis C viral load in a homogeneous patient population. The study group consisted of 57 viremic (hepatitis C virus [HCV] 1b) women for whom HLA class II DRB1 and DQB1 haplotyping, virologic, histologic, and biochemical markers of disease activity were available. All patients were infected with HCV 1b from the same source of hepatitis C-contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin during the period from May 1977 to November 1978. The mean slope of change of viral load was 0.34 (SD ± 0.73) log₁₀ viral copies/mL/year, which is significantly different from zero, P < 10^-9. Analysis of the relationship between the slope of change of viral load and HLA class II haplotype indicated a significantly different slope of change of viral load between the alleles of (1) DRB1*15 and DRB1*0701, and (2) DQB1*0602 and DQB1*0201, P_c = .036 and P_c = .026 after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, respectively. Significant differences for grade and stage of disease at liver biopsy were observed for DQB*0501 and DQB*0201 alleles; P = .019, r_S = .64, and P = .047, r_S = .57, respectively. In addition, significant differences in stage of disease were found to exist between DRB1*13 and DRB1*0701, P = .031, r_S = -.71. Our results define an association between the slope of change of viral load and HLA class II haplotype in patients infected with genotype 1b of HCV. This suggests a role for host immunogenetic factors in HCV infection in this homogeneous group.