Relationship between HLA-DR gene polymorphisms and outcomes of hepatitis B viral infections:A meta-analysis

AIM:To assess the rigorous relationship between human leukocyte antigens(HLA)-DR alleles and outcomes of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infections by means of metaanalysis.METHODS:Medline/PubMed,EMBASE,CNKI and VIP were searched to identify relevant studies.Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Odds ratios(OR) and 95% confidence interval(95% CI) were pooled using Stata 11.0.Subgroup analyses were performed by ethnicity.Heterogeneity and publication bias analyses were performed to validate the credibility.RESULTS:A total of 2609 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 2606 controls spontaneously recovering from prior HBV infection were included.Meta-analysis showed that HLA-DR*04(OR = 0.72,95% CI:0.60-0.85) and DR*13(OR = 0.27,95% CI:0.19-0.37) alleles were significantly associated with HBV clearance while patients carrying HLA-DR*03(OR = 1.47,95% CI:1.16-1.87) or DR*07(OR = 1.59,95% CI:1.24-2.03) alleles had a significantly increased risk of chronic HBV persistence.For the HLA-DR*01 polymorphism,a significantly association with HBV clearance was found in Chinese Han group(OR = 0.48,95% CI:0.26-0.86),but not found in other ethnic groups(P = 0.191).For other polymorphisms,no association with the HBV infection outcome was found.CONCLUSION:HLA-DR*04 and DR*13 alleles may be the protective factors for HBV clearance and HLADR*03,and DR*07 alleles may be the risk factors for HBV persistence.

Genome-wide microarray-based analysis of miRNAs expression in patients with acute-onchronic liver failure

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF) is a severe clinical syndrome that may cause a high mortality. However, the mechanism is still not clear. Characterization of the microRNA(miRNA) profiles in ACLF patients may provide new clues to the pathogenesis and management of this syndrome. METHODS: Genome-wide microarray was performed to compare the different miRNA expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a pair of monozygotic twins, an ACLF patient and an HBV asymptomatic carrier(AsC). The case-control miRNA profiles were compared and confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 104 ACLF patients and 96 AsCs. A combined computational prediction algorithm was used to predict the potential target genes. RESULTS: Forty-five miRNAs were increased and eight miRNAs were decreased in the ACLF group. The expressions of hsa-let-7a and hsa-miR-16 were increased by 8.58- and 8.63-fold in ACLF patients compared with that in AsCs, respectively(P【0.001). CARD8, BCL2, IL1RAPL1, LTB, FZD10 and EDA were identified as the target genes of hsa-miR-16; MAP4K3, OPRM1, IGF2BP1 and CERCAM were verified as the target genes of hsa-let-7a. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that there is a close relationship between specific miRNAs of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and ACLF. hsa-miR-16 and hsa-let-7a may contribute to the development of ACLF.