AIM: To study the relationship of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the genetic susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to interferon (IFN) in HBV-infected patients. METHODS: Low-resolution DNA typing kit was used to determine HLA-DR-1 and -DQB1 genes in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HLA-DRB1 in 200 healthy people ready to donate their bone marrow in Shanghai. Among CHB patients, 35 were treated with IFNa-lb for 24 wk. RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1~*06, DRB1~*08 and DRB1~*16 alleles in 72 patients were higher than in 200 healthy people (2.08% vs0%, OR=3.837, P=0.018; 11.11% vs 5.50%, OR=2.148, P=0.034; and 6.94% vs 3.00%, OR=0.625, P=0.049, respectively); whereas that of DRB1~*07 allele was lower (2.78% vs 7.75%, OR=0.340, P=0.046). The frequency of HLA-DRB1~*14 allele was higher in 11 responders to IFN compared with 24 non-responders (18.18% vs 2.08%, OR=10.444, P=0.031), whereas that of DQB1*07 allele was inverse (9.09% vs 37.50%, OR=0.167, P=0.021). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of HLA class II may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with other HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1~*06, DRB1~*08, and DRB1~*16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1~*07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1~*14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment. Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1~*07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN. AIM: To study the relationship of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the genetic susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to interferon (IFN) in HBV-infected patients. METHODS: Low-resolution DNA typing kit was used HLA-DR-1 and -DQB1 genes in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HLA-DRB1 in 200 healthy people ready to donate their bone marrow in Shanghai. Among CHB patients, 35 were treated with IFNα-1b for 24 wk. RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1 ~ * 06, DRB1 ~ * 08 and DRB1 ~ * 16 alleles in 72 patients were higher than in 200 healthy people (2.08% vs0%, OR = 3.837, P = 0.018; OR = 2.148, P = 0.034; and 6.94% vs 3.00% respectively, OR = 0.625, P = 0.049, respectively); while that of DRB1 ~ * 07 allele was lower (2.78% vs 7.75%, OR = 0.340, P = 0.046). The frequency of HLA-DRB1 ~ * 14 allele was higher in 11 responders to IFN compared with 24 non-responders (18.18% vs 2.08%, OR = 10.444, P = 0.031), whereas that of DQB1 * 07 allele was inverse (9.09% vs 37.5 ORF = 0.167, P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of HLA class II may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1 ~ * DRB1 ~ * 08, and DRB1 ~ * 16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1 ~ * 07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1 ~ * 14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment. Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1 ~ * 07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN.