Clinical significance of the CCR5delta32 allele in hepatitis C

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 5;9(9):e106424. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106424. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: The CCR5 receptor, expressed on Th1 cells, may influence clinical outcomes of HCV infection. We explored a possible link between a CCR5 32-base deletion (CCR5delta32), resulting in the expression of a non-functioning receptor, and clinical outcomes of HCV infection.

Methods: CCR5 and HCV-related phenotypes were analysed in 1,290 chronically infected patients and 160 patients with spontaneous clearance.

Results: Carriage of the CCR5delta32 allele was observed in 11% of spontaneous clearers compared to 17% of chronically infected patients (OR = 0.59, 95% CI interval 0.35-0.99, P = 0.047). Carriage of this allele also tended to be observed more frequently among patients with liver inflammation (19%) compared to those without inflammation (15%, OR = 1.38, 95% CI interval 0.99-1.95, P = 0.06). The CCR5delta32 was not associated with sustained virological response (P = 0.6), fibrosis stage (P = 0.8), or fibrosis progression rate (P = 0.4).

Conclusions: The CCR5delta32 allele appears to be associated with a decreased rate of spontaneous HCV eradication, but not with hepatitis progression or response to antiviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus* / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Patient Outcome Assessment
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics*

Substances

  • Receptors, CCR5

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Swiss National Science Foundation grants 3347C0-108782/1 and 33CS30_148417/1 to the Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study; European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration: grant agreement no 260844 to the Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study; and Swiss National Science Foundation grant 33CS30_148417/1 to FN. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.