Presence of interferon-lambda, 4, male vender, absent/mild steatosis and low viral load augment antibody levels to hepatitis C virus

• Objectives: Despite recombinant interferon-lambda 4 (IFN-lambda 4) demonstrating anti-viral activity in vitro and the ancestral functional gene (IFNL4) being conserved in all other primates, there has been speculation that IFN-?A may be detrimental in humans. In light of recent rekindled interest in humoral immunity, this study aimed at evaluating the impact of baseline characteristics, including IFNL4, on antibody levels to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Materials and methods: Pretreatment sera from 279 well-characterized North European Caucasians with chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection having undergone liver biopsy were analyzed regarding IFNL4 (rs12979860) and anti-HCV antibody levels using a commercially available assay. Results: Patients producing IFN-lambda 4 had higher signal to cut-off (S/CO) anti-HCV antibody ratios as compared with those lacking IFN-lambda 4 (IFNL4(rs1)(2979860) CT/TT versus CC, p<.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Additionally, in univariate analyses S/CO was significantly higher in men than women (p<.001), as well as in patients with absent/mild interface hepatitis (Ishak grade 0-2 versus 3-4, p =.009), and absent/ mild steatosis (grade 0-1 versus 2-3, p=.0005). Also, an inverse correlation with HCV RNA level (r(5) = -0.14, p=.02) was noted. In multivariate analysis IFN-lambda 4, gender, steatosis and viral load remained independently associated. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates that the ability to produce IFN-lambda 4, in addition to male gender, absent/mild steatosis, and lower viral load, augments antibody levels against HCV. This indicates that IFN-lambda 4 may be associated with T helper cell 2 (Th2) immune skewing, which might have clinical implications beyond HCV infection.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Infektionsmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Infectious Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Interferon-lambda 4

IFN-lambda 4

gender

steatosis

viral load

antibody

HCV RNA

HCV

single-nucleotide polymorphisms

genetic-variation

il28b

ifn-lambda-4

receptor

hcv

associations

clearance

responses

cytokine

Gastroenterology & Hepatology

gender

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