Natural killer KIR3DS1 is closely associated with HCV viral clearance and sustained virological response in HIV/HCV patients

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 16;8(4):e61992. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061992. Print 2013.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the influence of the presence of the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) 3DS1 on HCV treatment response in HIV/HCV genotype 1 co-infected patients.

Methods: HIV/HCV co-infected patients were included. KIR3DS1, their specific HLA-B ligands and IL28B gene were genotyped. Reductions of plasma HCV RNA levels between baseline and week 1, week 2 and week 4 were analyzed for IL28B genotype and KIR3DS1 (HLA Bw4 or Bw6). Rapid and sustained virological response (RVR and SVR) rates were also analyzed.

Results: Sixty HIV/HCV genotype 1 co-infected patients were included. Patients with KIR3DS1 and Bw4 had higher rates of HCV viral decline than those who were not carriers of KIR3DS1 (week 1: p = 0.01; week 2: p = 0.038; week 4: p = 0.03). Patients carrying KIR3DS1/Bw4 had higher rates of RVR and SVR than those who did not carry KIR3DS1 (RVR: 46.15% versus 17.02%, p = 0.012; SVR: 63.6% versus 13 26.5%, p = 0.031). With respect to patients carrying the IL28B-CC genotype, those with KIR3DS1/Bw4 had greater rates of HCV viral clearance (week 1: p<0.001; week 2: p = 0.01; week 4: p = 0.02), RVR (p = 0.015) and SVR (p = 0.029) than those not carrying KIR3DS1.

Conclusion: Our results show that the KIR3DS1 genotype has a positive effect on HCV viral clearance during the first weeks of Peg-IFN/RBV treatment in HCV/HCV co-infected patients bearing genotype 1, and higher RVR and SVR rates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coinfection
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HIV Infections / metabolism*
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, KIR3DS1 / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Receptors, KIR3DS1

Grants and funding

This work was partly supported by grants from the Fundación Progreso y Salud, Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (grants for health research projects: refs. PI-0036/2010, PI-0247-2010, PI-0208/2010, PI-0124/2008 and PI-0293/2007), the Spanish Health Ministry (ISCIII-RETIC RD06/006, and projects PI10/0164 and PI10/01232), Ministry of Science, Spain (SAF-2005-06984), Health Research Fund (FIS-PS09/00424) and the Spanish Foundation for Research and prevention of AIDS (FIPSE-36536/05). AR is the recipient of a research extension grant from the Fundación Progreso y Salud, Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (Reference AI-0011-2010); JAP is the recipient of extension grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant number Programa-I3SNS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.