Supernumerary marker chromosomes in peripheral blood cells of hepatitis B virus chronic carriers.
Cytogenetic analysis of metaphase chromosome spreads from peripheral blood cells of hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic carriers revealed supernumerary marker chromosomes in 2 of the 46 individuals tested. Both individuals are phenotypically normal oriental males, and exhibit mosaicism with a 46,XY/47,XY,+mar/48,XY,+2mar profile in one, and a 46,XY/47,XY,+mar profile in other. Based on the reported frequency of unidentified supernumerary chromosomes (1:2,500) in 377,357 amniocentesis samples, the frequency seen (1:23) in the population of HBV chronic carriers sampled here appears unusually high. The possibility of a role for HBV in the generation of marker chromosomes is discussed.
Simon
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Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
London
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WT
Knowles
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BB
D000328:Adult; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009030:Mosaicism
D005819:Genetic Markers; D006570:Heterochromatin