558 RESTORATION OF VIRUS SPECIFIC T CELL MEMORY IN CHRONIC HBV INFECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF ANTIVIRAL-THERAPY

Background:The reasons for the viral persistence of hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) are unknown, but are probably related to host immune factors.Cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) play significant roles in inflammatory and immune defense.This study was undertaken to investigate the genetic polymorphisms for persistent HBV infection and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip.Methods: Two hundred ninety two patients with HBV infection (111 with chronic hepatitis, 95 with liver cirrhosis, 86 with HCC) and 107 healthy individuals who recovered from HBV infection were enrolled.We assessed a total of 1,536 SNPs in 114 genes by using IIlumina SNP chips.Results: Four SNPs of IL-1b (-581T>C, -2023G>C, 3340A>G, 289T>C) and six SNPs of IL-1 receptor associated protein (IL-1RAP) (-51668T>A, -8261T>C, -8183A>G, -256C>T, 59264G>A, 65445A>G) showed biallelic polymorphism.The -2023 C allele of IL-1b was found to be significantly associated with HBV persistence (OR = 1.63, p = 0.03, dominant model).IL-1RAP -8261 T allele and -8183 A allele were also significantly related to HBV persistence (OR = 0.64, p < 0.01, co-dominant model and OR = 0.20, p = 0.01, recessive model, respectively).In haplotype analysis, IL-1b 289C/-581C/-2023C haplotype and IL-1RAP -8261T/-8183A haplotype were associated with HBV persistence (OR = 0.61, p = 0.03, recessive model and OR = 0.64, p < 0.01, co-dominant model, respectively).There are no significant association between genotype or haplotype of IL-1b/IL-1RAP and HCC development. Conclusions:The genetic polymorphisms of IL-1b -2023 C allele, IL-1RAP -8261 T allele and -8183 A allele are probable host factors for HBV persistence.There is no association between genotype or haplotype of IL-1b/IL-1RAP and HCC development.