Genome-wide association study identifies a PSMD3 variant associated with neutropenia in interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

Cytopenia during interferon-based (IFN-based) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) often necessitates reduction of doses of drugs and premature withdrawal from therapy resulting in poor response to treatment. To identify genetic variants associated with IFN-induced neutropenia, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 416 Japanese CHC patients receiving IFN-based therapy. Based on the results, we selected 192 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to carry out a replication analysis in an independent set of 404 subjects. The SNP rs2305482, located in the intron region of the PSMD3 gene on chromosome 17, showed a strong association when the results of GWAS and the replication stage were combined (OR=2.18, P=3.05×10(-7) in the allele frequency model). Logistic regression analysis showed that rs2305482 CC and neutrophil count at baseline were independent predictive factors for IFN-induced neutropenia (OR=2.497, P=0.0072 and OR=0.998, P<0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, rs2305482 genotype was associated with the doses of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) that could be tolerated in hepatitis C virus genotype 1-infected patients treated with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin, but not with treatment efficacy. Our results suggest that genetic testing for this variant might be useful for establishing personalized drug dosing in order to minimize drug-induced adverse events.