Sequential analyses of the mutations in the core upstream and precore regions of hepatitis B virus genome in anti-HBe positive-carriers developing acute exacerbation.
The nucleotide sequences of the core upstream and precore regions (371 nucleotide length, nt. 1604-1974) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were analysed sequentially in three subjects who were positive serologically for anti-HBe and had acute clinical exacerbation after immunosuppressive treatment. These patients were asymptomatic HBV carriers before therapy. The results revealed that the mutant with an 8-bp deletion (nt. 1768-1775) located in the basic core promoter region was dominant in the asymptomatic HBV carrier phase in two of three subjects. After exacerbation, however, such mutant clones possessing 8-bp deletion disappeared or decreased in number and were replaced by the clones possessing a precore stop codon mutation G to A (nt. 1896) or by the clones possessing additional contiguous point mutations A to T (nt. 1762) and G to A (nt. 1764) and a new point mutation C to T (nt. 1653). Possible relationships between acute exacerbation of liver function accompanied by mutation and the transition of the dominant clones were discussed.
Nishizono
A
A
Department of Microbiology, Oita Medical University, Japan.
Kohno
K
K
Takita-Sonoda
Y
Y
Hiraga
M
M
Terao
H
H
Fujioka
T
T
Nasu
M
M
Mifune
K
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D001483:Base Sequence; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002353:Carrier State; D004279:DNA, Viral; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors