Sequence analysis of pre-S/surface and pre-core/core promoter genes of hepatitis B virus in chronic hepatitis C patients with occult HBV infection.
Although occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in individuals without detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may occur and has been reported to be common in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the related molecular mechanisms remain unknown. With the polymerase chain reaction, serum HBV DNA was sought in 100 HBsAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection. In those with occult HBV infection, possible genomic variability of HBV was evaluated by amplification and direct sequencing of pre-S, surface, and pre-core/core promoter genes. In total, 10 of the 100 patients (10%) had detectable serum HBV DNA, documenting an occult HBV infection. A deletion mutant in the pre-S gene was found in one patient and mutations of the a determinant of HBsAg were observed in 2. In addition, a novel core promoter mutant (a dinucleotide substitution: T-to-C at nucleotide 1,802 and T-to-G at nucleotide 1,803, T1802C/T1803G) was found frequently in patients with occult HBV infection as compared to sex- and age-matched HBsAg-positive patients (80 vs. 10%, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the data suggest occult HBV infection is not uncommon in chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan, and a novel core promoter mutant may be associated with the absence of circulating HBsAg in these patients.
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. kjh@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013624:Taiwan
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012367:RNA, Viral