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Abstract Details
Absence of activating killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes combined with hepatitis C viral genotype is predictive of hepatocellular carcinoma
Littera R, Zamboni F, Tondolo V, Fantola G, Chessa L, Orrù N, Sanna M, Valentini D, Cappai L, Mulargia M, Caocci G, Arras M, Floris A, Orrù S, La Nasa G, Carcassi C. Hum Immunol. 2013 Jun 10. pii: S0198-8859(13)00148-1. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2013.05.007. [Epub ahead of print]
Source
Centro Regionale Trapianti, Ospedale R. Binaghi - ASL 8, 09126 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: roby.litter@gmail.com.
Abstract
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and their human leukocyte antigen class I ligands have a critical role in natural killer cell response to viral pathogens and tumors. To investigate whether killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes could influence the chronic course of hepatitis C virus infection and/or progression to hepatocellular carcinoma we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 228 patients transplanted for hepatitis C virus-induced cirrhotic end stage liver disease, combined or not with hepatocellular carcinoma. We found that patients completely lacking activating killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes had a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C viral genotype and viral load are other risk factors that can influence the course of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. In our study, the risk conferred by hepatitis C viral genotypes was enhanced in patients lacking activating killer immunoglobulin-like receptors. These results point to an important role for activating killer immunoglobulin-like receptors in the control of hepatitis C virus infection and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. In clinical practice, assessment of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor and hepatitis C viral genotype combinations should allow for more accurate monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.