Quantitative analysis of GBV-C RNA in liver and serum by strand-specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
OBJECTIVE
Although GB virus C (GBV-C) is frequently detectable in patients with liver diseases, it is not known whether it actually replicates in the liver. Therefore we have quantitatively examined the strand-specific RNA of this virus.


METHODS
Fourteen patients (two GBV-C RNA only seropositive, seven both GBV-C RNA and HCV RNA seropositive, and five HCV RNA only seropositive) were examined. Extracted RNAs from sera and liver specimens of these patients were serially diluted and strand-specific RNAs of GBV-C and HCV were quantitatively measured using strand-specific primers by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Positive-strand GBV-C RNA in serum was detected in all nine GBV-C RNA seropositive cases, and negative-strand RNA was detected in three, uncertain in three, and undetected in three. Positive-strand GBV-C RNA in the liver was detected in seven and undetected in two, while negative-strand RNA in the liver was undetected in eight and uncertain in one. On the other hand, positive-strand HCV RNA was detected in serum from all 12 HCV RNA seropositive patients and negative-strand HCV RNA was detected in one, uncertain in seven, and undetected in four. Positive-strand HCV RNA was detected in the liver from all 12 HCV RNA seropositive patients, and the presence of negative-strand HCV RNA in the liver was confirmed in 10 and uncertain in the remaining two.


CONCLUSIONS
GBV-C is considered to be far less hepatotropic than HCV, and it is suggested that GBV-C might not be replicating in the liver.
Kanda
T
T
First Department of Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yokosuka
O
O
Tagawa
M
M
Kawai
S
S
Imazeki
F
F
Saisho
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral