Haplotype-tagging RANTES gene variants influence response to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C

The response to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is complex and is determined by both environmental and genetic factors. Recently, interacting gene polymorphisms of the chemokine RANTES have been shown to affect HIV disease progression. Our aim was to assess if these RANTES variants are associated with response to anti-HCV therapy. Three linked RANTES single nucleotide polymorphisms (403 G/A, Int1.1 T/C, and 3' 222 T/C) were determined in 297 Caucasian patients who were treated for chronic HCV infection and 152 control subjects. Characteristic nucleotide combinations on single chromosomes (haplotypes) were reconstructed and tested for disease association. Four common RANTES haplotypes (prevalence > 3%) were identified in patients and controls [corrected]. There was a strong association of RANTES haplotype distribution with outcome of antiviral combination therapy (P = .007). Specifically, RANTES haplotypes carrying Int1.1 C and 3' 222 C alleles were more frequent in nonresponders than in patients with a sustained response to antiviral therapy (odds ratio 1.9, P = .01). The influence of these RANTES haplotypes on the outcome of therapy was more pronounced in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4 (odds ratio 2.3, P = .02). Because RANTES haplotypes carrying Int1.1 C are known to down-regulate RANTES transcriptional activity in vitro, the haplotype analysis fits the hypothesis of a diminished T helper 1 lymphocyte response in patients with a negative response to antiviral therapy. In conclusion, RANTES haplotypes might contribute to the polygenic interaction between HCV and the host immune system and could help to risk stratify patients prior to antiviral therapy.