SNP rs688 within the low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDL‐R) gene associates with HCV susceptibility. (17th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steba, Gaby S.; Koekkoek, Sylvie M.; Tanck, Michael W. T.; Vanhommerig, Joost W.; van der Meer, Jan T. M.; Kwa, David; Brinkman, Kees; Prins, Maria; Berkhout, Ben; Pollakis, Georgios; Molenkamp, Richard; Schinkel, Janke; Paxton, William A.
• Is Part Of: Liver international. Volume 39:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 469
• Publication Date: 2018-10-17
• Subjects: HCV -- HIV‐1 -- LDL‐R -- polymorphism -- rs688 -- single nucleotide; Liver -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/liv.13978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-3223

Abstract

Abstract: Background & Aims: Despite high‐risk behaviour, 10%‐20% of HCV multiple exposed individuals remain uninfected (MEU), whilst the remainder become infected (MEI). We hypothesize that host factors play a role in HCV susceptibility. We aimed to identify polymorphisms in host genes that encode for proteins involved in viral entry: CD81, Scavenger receptor 1 (SR‐1), Low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDL‐R), Claudin‐1 (CLDN1), Occludin (OCLN) and Niemann‐Pick C1–like 1 (NPC1L1). Methods: Multiple exposed infected and MEU from two observational cohorts were selected. From the MSM study of acute infection with HCV (MOSAIC), HIV‐1 infected MEU cases (n = 30) and HIV‐1 infected MEI controls (n = 32) were selected based on reported high‐risk behaviour. From the Amsterdam Cohorts Studies (ACS) injecting drug users (IDU) cohort, MEU cases (n = 40) and MEI controls (n = 22) were selected who injected drugs for ≥2 years, in the nineties, when HCV incidence was high. Selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined by sequencing or SNP assays. Results: No associations were found for SNPs within genes coding for CD81, SR‐1, Claudin‐1 or Occludin between the MEU and MEI individuals from either cohort. We did observe a significant association for rs688 within the LDL‐R gene with HCV infection (OR: 0.41 P = 0.001), however, LDL cholesterol levels did not vary between individuals carrying the differential SNPs. Additionally, a marginal significant effect was found for rs217434 and rs2072183 (OR: 2.07 P = 0.032 and OR: 1.76 P = 0.039, respectively) within NPC1L1. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the rs688 SNP within the LDL‐R gene associates with HCV susceptibility through mucosal as well as intravenous exposure.