A correlation study between gene polymorphism of Th cell expressed chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligand levels with HCV infection prognosis

Y. Lu, L.-Y. Lin, J.-G. Tan, H.-P. Deng, X.-H. Li, Z. Zhang, Y. Li, Z. Zhou, X. Xu, X. Xie, S.-J. Mei

Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Department, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China. yanlu202@163.com

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• Gastroenterology

OBJECTIVE: Chemokine receptor and its ligand participate in viral immunity and HCV infection, which are important inflammatory mediators. The current study showed the different roles of Th cell secreted chemokines CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR6 in chronic liver inflammation after HCV infection. As one important chemokine receptor, the role of polypeptide property and ligand level in HCV prognosis is still unclear. This study aims to investigate gene polymorphism of chemokine genes and ligand level, and their correlation with patient liver function, to provide evidence for HCV prognosis and chronic transition mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Whole blood samples were collected. Participants were divided into chronic hepatitis, HCV cirrhosis and self-clearance groups. Chemokine level, gene polymorphism of CXCR3 gene at loci rs2280964 and liver index were measured to analyze their correlation with HCV infection or prognosis.

RESULTS: Gene polymorphism of CXCR3 at loci rs22809064 is one factor-affecting prognosis of HCV patients. CG genotype at these loci is one independent risk factor affecting chronic HCV infection. IP-10, Mig and I-TAC levels were significantly elevated in chronic hepatitis group or HCV cirrhosis group (p< 0.05 compared to self-clearance group).

CONCLUSIONS: Gene polymorphism at rs2280964 locus of chemokine receptor CXCR3 is one possible reason explaining differential processes of chronic transition. CXCR3 ligands IP-10, Mig and I-TAC levels were all significantly elevated in chronic hepatitis and HCV cirrhosis patients, possibly functioning as one clinical index for HCV prognosis.

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