[Evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia and adaptation of HCV in persistent infection in patients with acute hepatitis].
HCV viremia had ceased in majority of patients with acute resolving hepatitis C, and it continued for at least 1 year in all patients with chronicity. The HCV RNA titer in serum decreased markedly after the onset of acute hepatitis and then re-elevated in patients with chronicity. During this period, amino acid substitution rate in the E2/NS1 region (especially in HVR) was significantly higher in patients with acute hepatitis than in patients with chronic hepatitis. When patients with acute hepatitis C became persistent HCV carriers, the substitution rate decreased to the level seen in patients with chronic hepatitis. These observations suggest that rapid substitution of the amino acid sequence in the HVR of the E2/NS1 region may be one of the mechanisms of persistent HCV infection.
Tanaka
E
E
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine.
D000208:Acute Disease; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000382:microbiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins