HLA-DRB1*1301 and *1302 protect against chronic hepatitis B

Background/Aims: The outcome of acute hepatitis B infection may be influenced by host factors like the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), We have investigated MHC class I and class II antigens in patients with chronic hepatitis B compared to a healthy control population, To confirm the findings of this first study we performed a second study in a group of subjects who had spontaneously recovered from acute hepatitis B infection. Methods: Frequencies of MHC class I and class II antigens were analyzed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and in control subjects, MHC class I typing was done by standard micro-lymphocytotoxicity assays, DRB1 and DQA1 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction based typing methods. Results: In the first study the class II allele HLA-DRB1*1301-02 was found in 4 of 70 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (5.7%) compared to 27 of 101 healthy controls (26.7%, relative risk 0.17; p = 0.001; p(corr) = 0.025), This protective effect of the DRB1*1301-02 allele was confirmed in the second study, Eight of 24 patients (33.3%) who cleared hepatitis B virus spontaneously were positive for DPB1*1301-O2 (relative risk of developing chronic infection compared to chronic hepatitis B subjects 0.12; p = 0.004), Subtyping confirmed that 1301 and 1302 were both decreased in frequency in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Conclusions: The MHC class II allele DRB1* 1301-02 is associated with protection from chronic hepatitis B in Caucasian patients.