CXCL12 G801A polymorphism is associated with significant liver fibrosis in HIV-infected Thais: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies indicate high prevalence of liver diseases in HIV-infected patients, and their genetic risk factors are still unclear. The chemokine CXCL12 plays important roles in development of chronic liver injury and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G to A change at position 801 in CXCL12 gene has been demonstrated to affect CXCL12 production levels.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the association of CXCL12 G801A SNP with liver complication in HIV-infected Thais.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 164 patients who were evaluated for transaminitis and significant liver fibrosis, defined by fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), and genotyped for the SNP using tetra-primer PCR-SSP.

RESULTS

There were high rates of patients with transaminits (28.0%), and significant liver fibrosis by FIB-4 score (18.9%) and by APRI (14.0%). The CXCL12 G801A AA/GA genotypes were significantly associated with transaminitis (p = 0.014) and significant fibrosis by APRI (p = 0.020). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the AA/GA genotypes as predictive factors for significant fibrosis (OR 6.8, 95%CI 1.7-28.2, p = 0.008), together with age older than 40 years, CD4+ cell count < 350 cells/μl and hepatitis B and/or C virus coinfection. The significantly higher medians of APRI and FIB-4 score, in patients with AA/GA than those with GG genotypes (p < 0.05) were observed in the ART-naïve, but not ART-experienced groups.

CONCLUSION

The CXCL12 G801A AA/GA genotypes are significant predictive factors for hepatic fibrosis potentially in the ART-naïve HIV-infected Thais.