Association between a progesterone receptor mutation and hepatitis E sero‐positivity in liver transplant recipients. Issue 12 (11th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Debes, Jose D.; Groothuismink, Zwier M. A.; de Man, Robert A.; Boonstra, Andre
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 92:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 3871
• Page End: 3874
• Publication Date: 2020-07-11
• Subjects: cytokines -- HEV -- liver transplant -- PROGINS; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract: Problem: We investigated if the PROGINS mutation increases the risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in liver transplant recipients. PROGINS was analyzed through KASP assay; HEV serologies assessed via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and multiplex cytokine assays were evaluated in plasma with the ProcartaPlex human immunoassay. Seventy liver transplant recipients were evaluated, of which 23 (33%) were HEV immunoglobuln G (IgG)‐positive (HEV+). The frequency of PROGINS in the HEV+ group was 34%, compared with 14% in those that were HEV IgG negative (HEV−). Cytokine measurements in a sub‐set of samples from HEV+/PROGINS+ individuals showed decreased plasma levels of monokine induced by gamma interferon, a proliferation‐inducing ligand, and stem cell factor, as well as increased levels of eotaxin‐3 and interleukin‐31 compared with those HEV−/PROGINS− samples. Our findings suggest an association between the PROGINS mutation and seropositivity for HEV in liver transplant recipients with consequent distorted cytokine levels. Highlights: It is unclear why transplant recipients have an increased risk of HEV infection. We found an increased rate the PROGINS mutations liver transplant in HEV‐positive individuals.