The relationship between HLA-G and viral loads in non-responder HCV-infected patients after combined therapy with IFN- alpha 2 alpha and ribavirin

• Published in: Human immunology Vol. 76; no. 2-3; pp. 181 - 186
• Main Authors: Khorrami, Samaneh, Mohammadpour, Hemn, Shahzamani, Kiana, Zarif, Mahin Nikougoftar, Sharifi, Amir Hoshang, Merat, Shahin, Poustchi, Hossein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2015
• Subjects: Hepatitis C virus
• ISSN: 0198-8859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.12.012

Hepatitis C disease is a virus mediated infection causing major health problem worldwide. Conversions of immune surveillance play an important role in response to virus clearance. Immune modulating molecules such as HLA-G and IL-10 that convert immune response toward Th2 may play a role to inhibit response from combined therapy with IFN- alpha 2 alpha and ribavirin. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of HLA-G and IL-10 in responder and non-responder HCV positive patients. In this study, characteristics of the virus and 48 responder and non-responder patients in response to the combined therapy with IFN- alpha 2 alpha and ribavirin were analyzed. The expression levels of HLA-G and IL-10 were conducted using real-time PCR. Also, soluble HLA-G in both groups of patients and healthy individuals were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. According to the obtained data, HCV 1a was the predominant genotype in responder and non-responder patients. Expression levels of HLA-G and IL-10 in non-responder group was significantly more than responder and control groups (P <0.001). Additionally, expression levels of HLA-G and IL-10 were remarkably higher compared to healthy individuals at the beginning of treatment. Soluble HLA-G in non-responder patients was noticeably increased in comparison to responder patients after treatment (P <0.05). These findings suggest that elevation of HLA-G and IL-10 in HCV infected patients may play an important role in response to combined therapy with IFN- alpha 2 alpha and ribavirin.