AUTHOR=Rugwizangoga Belson , Andersson Maria E. , Kabayiza Jean-Claude , Nilsson Malin S. , Ármannsdóttir Brynja , Aurelius Johan , Nilsson Staffan , Hellstrand Kristoffer , Lindh Magnus , Martner Anna 

TITLE=IFNL4 Genotypes Predict Clearance of RNA Viruses in Rwandan Children With Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00340

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00340

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Polymorphisms in the interferon lambda gene locus (<italic>IFNL</italic>) such as the <italic>IFNL4</italic> genetic variants <italic>rs12979860</italic> and <italic>rs368234815</italic> are predictive of resolution of hepatitis C virus infection, but information about the impact of these variants in other infections is scarce. This study aimed at determining the potential impact of <italic>IFNL4</italic> variation for the clearance of respiratory tract pathogens in Rwandan children (≤5 years old, <italic>n</italic> = 480) seeking medical care for acute respiratory infections. Nasopharyngeal swabs were retrieved from all children at the first hospital referral and from 161 children at follow-up visits 2 weeks later. The swabs were analyzed for pathogens by real-time PCR and for host cell <italic>IFNL4</italic> genotype at <italic>rs12979860</italic> and <italic>rs368234815</italic>. Approximately 1/3 of the children were homozygous for the <italic>rs12979860</italic> T allele and the <italic>rs368234815</italic> ΔG allele, which are overrepresented in subjects of African descent. These <italic>IFNL4</italic> variants were significantly associated with reduced clearance of RNA viruses. Our results suggest that <italic>IFNL4</italic> genotypes that are common among subjects of African descent may determine inefficacious clearance of RNA viruses from the respiratory tract.</p>