Background:
IL-2 cytokine is involved in HIV replication and is also known to
cause hepatic injury. Polymorphisms in the IL-2 gene are associated with altered
interleukin-2 production.
Methods:
Hence, we assessed the prevalence of IL-2-303G/T polymorphism in 165 HIV
patients (34 with and 131without hepatotoxicity) and 155 healthy controls using the
PCR-RFLP method.
Results:
In patients with hepatotoxicity, IL-2-303GT, -303GT+TT genotypes were less
prevalent as compared to without hepatotoxicity and healthy controls (29.4% vs. 42.7%,
58.8% vs. 69.5%; 29.4% vs. 40.6%, 58.8% vs. 66.5%, respectively). In patients with
hepatotoxicity using tobacco and alcohol, IL-2-303GT,-303TT genotypes were
distributed higher as compared to non-users (42.9% vs. 25.9%, OR=8.52, 42.9% vs.
25.9%, OR=9.09, and 28.6% vs. 29.6%, OR=1.63, 42.9% vs. 25.9%, OR=2.93), while
IL-2-303TT genotype occurred more often in HIV patients consuming alcohol (34.1% vs.
23.0%). Nevirapine users with hepatotoxicity overrepresented the IL-2-303GT,-303TT
genotypes as compared to efavirenz (34.8% vs. 18.2%, OR=4.64, 34.8% vs. 18.2%,
OR=3.88). Among nevirapine users, IL-2-303GT genotype was associated with
susceptibility to the acquisition of hepatotoxicity with borderline significance (OR=4.24,
P=0.06). HIV patients using nevirapine majorly represented the IL-2-303TT genotype
(26.9% vs. 25.0%, OR=2.35) while HIV patients with nevirapine + alcohol usage
presented the IL-2 -330TT genotype at a higher frequency (34.2% vs. 23.5%,
OR=1.51). In patients with hepatotoxicity using nevirapine + alcohol, the genotype IL-2 -
330TT was predominant (60.0% vs. 27.8%, OR=3.16).
Conclusion:
Thus, IL-2-303G/T polymorphism did not confer the susceptibility to ARV
associated hepatotoxicity. However, IL-2-303G/T polymorphism with nevirapine usage
may facilitate the risk for acquisition of ARV associated hepatotoxicity.
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Antigen-Specific T Cells Suppress HIV Replication and PD-1 Expression on CD4+ T Cells