Relationship between the TLR9.rs5743836 (-1237T→C) genotype and
the HCV-specific IFNγ ELISpot response
There was no relationship between the outcome of the HCV-specific CMI
response and the TLR9.rs5743836 genotype among the 265 HCWs with valid
CMI responses and TLR9.rs5743836 genotyping tests (Table 2,p= 0.12). However, there was a statistically significant
(p =0.019) lower proportion of the TT genotype in responding
spontaneously resolved subjects compared to non-responding spontaneously
resolved subjects (20% Vs 80%, respectively; Table 2).
The average totals (±SEM) of IFN-γ responses measured in SFC per million
PBMCs in the responding total subjects were 624±125, and 381±100 with
the TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=18) and TT (n=41) genotypes, respectively.
There were no responding subjects with the CC genotype. On the other
hand, among the non-responding subjects, the average totals (±SEM) of
IFN-γ SFC per million PBMCs in total subjects were 40±23, 40±10, and
26±4, among those with the TLR9.rs5743836 CC (n=4), CT (n=40) and TT
(n=162), respectively. There was a significant difference between the
responding total subjects with different TLR9.rs5743836 genotypes
(p =0.005; Figure 2A).
For the seronegative, aviraemic subjects, the average totals of
HCV-specific IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±SEM) of theresponding subjects were 617±192, and 398±164, among those with
the TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=10) and TT (n=20) genotypes, respectively.
There were no responding subjects with the CC genotype. Differences were
not statistically significant
(p =0.159). On the other hand,
the average totals of IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±SEM) of
the non-responding seronegative, aviraemic subjects were 32±31, 44±14,
and 18±3, among those with the TLR9.rs5743836 CC (n=3), CT (n=25) and TT
(n=82) genotypes, respectively (Figure 2B).
For seronegative , viraemic subjects, the average totals of
HCV-specific IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±SEM) of theresponding subjects were 238, and 632±455, among those with the
TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=1) and TT (n=3) genotypes, respectively. There were
no responding subjects with the CC genotype. Differences were not
statistically significant (p =0.654). On the other hand, the
average totals of IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±SEM) of the
non-responding subjects were 65, 18±14, and 38±18, among those with the
TLR9.rs5743836 CC (n=1), CT (n=4) and TT (n=11) genotypes, respectively
(Figure 2C).
For spontaneously resolved subjects , the average total
HCV-specific IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±) of theresponding subjects was 795±345, and 206±49, among those with the
TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=3) and TT (n=4) genotypes, respectively. There were
no responding subjects with the CC genotype. Differences were not
statistically significant
(p =0.077). On the other hand,
the average totals of IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (± ) ofnon-responding subjects were 1, and 36±12, among those with the
TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=1) and TT (n=27) genotypes, respectively. Also,
there were no subjects with the CC genotype among non-responding
subjects (Figure 2D).
For chronic HCV patients , the average totals of HCV-specific
IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (± SEM) of the respondingsubjects were 610±212, and 354±156, among those with the TLR9.rs5743836,
CT (n=4) and TT (n=14) genotypes, respectively. There were no responding
subjects with the CC genotype. Differences were statistically
significant (p =0.044). On the other hand, the average totals of
IFN-γ SFC/106 PBMCs (±SEM) of the non-responding
chronic HCV subjects were 43±19 and 32±8, among those with the
TLR9.rs5743836 CT (n=10) and TT (n=42) genotypes, respectively. There
were no subjects with the CC genotype among the non-responding chronic
patients (Figure 2E).