The C allele is protective of HCV in TLR3, TLR7 (rs3853839) in females only, and TLR8 (rs3764879) in males only, while risk of infection is linked to the T allele in TLR7 (rs179008) in females only and the A allele in TLR8 (rs3764880) in both sexes.
In this study, we investigated the genetic role of endosomal TLRs on susceptibility to HIV infection and HCV co-infection through the analysis of TLR7 rs179008, TLR8 rs3764880, TLR9 rs5743836 and TLR9 rs352140 polymorphisms in 789 Brazilian individuals (374 HIV+ and 415 HIV-), taking into account their ethnic background.
Whereas hepatic viral load and expression of genes known to be induced in chronic HCV infection were not found to differ in patients with wild-type or variant TLR7 rs179008 genotype, significant lower gene expression of interleukin-29 (IL-29)/lambda(1) interferon (IFN-λ(1)) and both of its receptor subunits was found for T homo- and hemizygous patients.
The c.32A>T variation was over-represented in female patients with chronic HCV-infection compared to patients with other chronic liver diseases and to healthy controls (P < 0.05).