Mutations of hepatitis C virus 1b NS5A 2209-2248 amino acid sequence is not a predictive factor for response to interferon-alpha therapy and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Genetic changes between codons 2209 and 2248 of NS5A of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV-1b) have been reported to be associated with the sensitivity to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The present study was performed to analyze such relationship in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-1b (n=19), including 12 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-alpha, 3 chronic hepatitis C patients without treatment as controls, and 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two serum samples, before and after the treatment, were analyzed for the mutations by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing. The mutations were identified in 32% (6/19), including five intermediate type (1-3 mutations) and one mutant type (4 or more). In 12 patients treated with IFN-alpha, the number of amino acid substitutions in NS5A2209-2248 was not associated with outcome of the treatment. Two HCV isolates with NS5A2209-2248 mutations from HCC patients were intermediate type. These results do not support that the NS5A2209-2248 determines interferon sensitivity of HCV-1b and that the mutations is associated with development of HCC.
Bae
S H
SH
Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
Park
Y M
YM
Yoo
D G
DG
Choi
J Y
JY
Byun
B H
BH
Yang
J M
JM
Lee
C D
CD
Cha
S B
SB
Park
D H
DH
Kim
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D003062:Codon; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003062:Codon; D016898:Interferon-alpha