Additive effects of HLA alleles and innate immune genes determine viral outcome in HCV infection. GUT
Fitzmaurice et al. assessed the collective influence of HLA- and innate immune genes on viral outcome in HCV infection in a cohort of women who had been infected from a single source as well as the more heterogeneous Swiss HIV Cohort Study. They found that HLA class I and II genes are significantly associated with viral outcomes even when the profound impact of immune genes (e.g., IL28B) are considered. There is no evidence of a genetic interaction effect between HLA I and II alleles and IL28B, however, there is a clear additive effect.
These data support a critical role for the adaptive immune response alongside the innate immune response in the control of HCV.