Influence of interleukin 10 polymorphisms -592 and -1082 to the HIV, HBV and HCV serostatus among intravenous drug users

•We examined IL-10-1082 and -592 in highly exposed HIV seronegative (HESNs) IDUs.•IL-10-1082A and -592A protect against HIV infection in HESNs.•IL-10-592AC protects against HIV and HBV infections.•IL-10-592AC containing genotype pairs protect against HIV and HBV infections.

BackgroundInterleukin 10 (IL-10) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by macrophages, monocytes, and T-helper cells. Two polymorphisms at positions -592 and -1082 have been associated with HIV susceptibility. However, their associations with susceptibility to HIV and its co-infections among intravenous drug users (IDUs) are largely unknown.MethodsA total of 345 IDUs were recruited. Of the 173 HIV negative IDUs, 20 were classified as highly exposed HIV seronegative subjects (HESNs). A control group consisted of 496 blood donors; all HIV, HCV, and HBV negative. The IL-10-592C/A and -1082A/G were determined using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay.ResultsOf the IDUs, 50% were HIV positive, 89% HCV positive, 67% HBV positive and 41% had triple infection. IL-10-592C allele and -1082A allele were the most common and the -1082AG/-592CC was the most common genotype pair. All HESNs exhibited -1082A allele as compared to 81.4% of the HIV positive IDUs and 79% of donors (p = 0.029 and p = 0.019, respectively). None of HESNs had GG/CC genotype pair compared with 18.6% of HIV positive IDUs and 21.0% of donors (p = 0.029 and p = 0.019, respectively). The possession of -592AC and genotype pair AG/AC were associated with the decreased odds of HBV infection (OR = 0.28; 95% CI 0.09-0.87; p = 0.028 and OR = 0.19; 95% CI 0.06-0.61; p = 0.052, respectively).ConclusionsThe presence of low producing IL-10-1082A and -592A alleles and their containing genetic variants protect highly exposed IDUs against acquisition of HIV and HBV infections.