Mutation in the Progesterone receptor (PROGINs) may reduce the symptoms of acute hepatitis E and protect against infection. Homo sapiens

It has been observed that high levels of progesterone may be related to increased susceptibility to infections. Mutations in the progesterone receptor (PR) gene, called PROGINS, can reduce the activity of this hormone. Thus, PROGINS may influence on the activity of the immune system and have an impact on the clinical features and evolution of the viral infection. In this context, the PR has been studied in relation to hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection where PROGINS gene may go on to develop a worse clinical course of hepatitis E. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of PROGINS on susceptibility and the clinical course of HEV infection in HIV patients in an area with high prevalence and incidence of hepatitis E. The results obtained in our study suggest that homozygous PROGINS genotype reduces susceptibility to HEV infection and is associated with a better clinical course of this, especially in women in whom was associated with lower HEV seroprevalence in HIV-infected individuals. For this reason, our findings suggest that PROGINS mutation in the PR gene may play a protective role against infection with HEV and is associated with subclinical infections in HIV-infected patients, particularly women.