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Genetics of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
This study is currently recruiting patients.
Sponsored by: | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |
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Information provided by: | Warren G Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) |
Purpose
The course of hepatitis C varies among people infected with the virus. Some people respond to treatment while many do not; some recover completely while others remain chronically infected; and among those who remain infected, some have mild symptoms while others' symptoms are severe. This study will look for genetic factors that may contribute to these differences.
Children over 2 years of age and adults with hepatitis C virus infection or with other kinds of liver disease (such as hepatitis B virus infection, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson's disease and others), and normal volunteers may be eligible for this study.
Participants will provide 40 to 60 centiliters (1 to 2 ounces) of blood. DNA will be isolated from the white blood cells for analysis of genes involved in certain immune functions. The genetic findings from patients with hepatitis C, patients with other forms of liver disease, and normal volunteers will be compared to try to learn how the differences may influence the symptoms and course of hepatitis C and to understand how the virus causes disease.
The results of this study may provide information useful for developing a vaccine and better treatments for hepatitis C.
Condition |
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Hepatitis C Liver Disease |
MedlinePlus related topics: Hepatitis C; Liver Diseases
Study Type: Observational
Study Design: Natural History
Official Title: Immunogenetics of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Expected Total Enrollment: 9999999
Study start: May 4, 2000
The diverse clinical syndromes associated with hepatitis C underscore the multifactorial and polygenic nature of HCV infection. Both viral and host factors likely contribute to variations in infection outcome, disease susceptibility and progression, and treatment response. This protocol will focus on the immunogenetics of HCV infection. Various candidate genes, most of them related to host immune response in microbial infection, have defined genetic polymorphisms that have been associated with variable manifestations of infections including malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, AIDS and hepatitis B. In this proposal, we plan to collect peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a source of DNA from approximately 1500 patients with HCV infection, analyze genetic polymorphisms of various candidate genes in association with viral clearance, disease progression or treatment response, and characterize the functional consequences of these polymorphisms in patients with well-defined clinical sequelae of HCV infection. We will also collect blood from patients with other forms of liver diseases (approximately 300) or normal volunteers (approximately 200) as controls. By identifying relevant host factors genetically and investigating their molecular interactions with HCV, we may gain additional insights into HCV pathogenesis and uncover new potential targets for vaccine development and treatment intervention.
Eligibility
Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Criteria
Location and Contact Information
More Information
Publications
Hill AV. The immunogenetics of human infectious diseases. Annu Rev Immunol. 1998;16:593-617. Review.
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