Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor alleles influence susceptibility to occult hepatitis B infection in West African population

Momeiyi Michee Bazie; Florencia Wendkuuni Djigma; Mahamoudou Sanou; Pegdwendé Abel Sorgho; Abdoul Karim Ouattara; Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah; Nadège Kapieko; Herman Karim Sombie; Prosper Bado; Edwige Tampoubila Yelemkoure; Isabelle Touwendpoulimdé Kiendrebeogo; Marius Bolni Nagalo; Albert Théophane Yonli; Jacques Simpore

doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2586

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor alleles influence susceptibility to occult hepatitis B infection in West African population

J Public Health Afr. 2023 Oct 1;14(9):2586. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2586.

Authors

Momeiyi Michee Bazie^{1

2}, Florencia Wendkuuni Djigma^{1

2}, Mahamoudou Sanou³, Pegdwendé Abel Sorgho^{1

2}, Abdoul Karim Ouattara^{1

2}, Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah⁴, Nadège Kapieko^{1

2}, Herman Karim Sombie^{1

2}, Prosper Bado^{1

2}, Edwige Tampoubila Yelemkoure^{1

2}, Isabelle Touwendpoulimdé Kiendrebeogo^{1

2}, Marius Bolni Nagalo⁵, Albert Théophane Yonli^{1

2}, Jacques Simpore^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory (LABIOGENE), Department of Biochemistry-Microbiology, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou.
² Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Center (CERBA), Ouagadougou.
³ Department of Pharmacy, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁵ Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.

Abstract

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a public health problem in Burkina Faso. OBI represents a risk factor for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBI could be due to mutant viruses undetectable by HBsAg assays or a strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression under the pression of the host immune system. To investigate the role of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene polymorphisms in patients with OBI in Burkina Faso compared to healthy and chronic hepatitis B subjects. A total of 286 participants was recruited, including 42 cases of OBI, 110 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 134 HBV negative subjects. SSP-PCR was performed to search for the presence of KIR genes. The HBV viral load was determined by qPCR. The frequencies of the activator gene KIR2DS5 (P=0.045) and the pseudogene KIR2DP1 (P<0.001) in patients with OBI were higher than those in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These genes are associated with susceptibility of occult hepatitis B infection. The frequencies of the inhibitory KIR gene KIR2DL3 (P=0.01) of patients with occult hepatitis B were lower than those in chronic hepatitis B patients. This gene KIR2DL3 is associated with protection against occult hepatitis B infection. Also, the frequencies of the inhibitory KIR genes KIR2DL2 (P<0.001), KIR2DL3 (P<0.001) and activators KIR2DS2 (P<0.001) in chronic hepatitis B patients were higher compared to the frequencies of the KIR genes in healthy subjects. These genes KIR2DL3, KIR2DL5 (A, B), KIR3DL3, KIR3DS1, KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS2 are thought to be genes associated with the susceptibility to OBI. The KIR2DS5 and KIR2DP1 genes could be associated with susceptibility to OBI. As for the KIR gene KIR2DL3 could be associated with protection against occult hepatitis B infection.

Keywords: Burkina Faso; KIR; OBI; SSP-PCR.

Grants and funding

Funding: This research work was funded through the program J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship (African Research Scholar Program) (Institute of International Education, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the US embassy of Ouagadougou and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars).