[Relationship between hot spot mutation in hepatitis B virus basic core promotor and HBeAg status].
OBJECTIVE
This paper was to study the influence of hot spot mutation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) basic core promotor (BCP) (nt1762 and nt1764) on HBeAg status of asymptomatic HBV carriers.


METHODS
Mismatched PCR was used to amplify the fragment of HBVBCP and the fragments were analysed by restrict enzyme assay. Ninety cases of HBV infection were tested for hot spot mutations in HBVBCP.


RESULTS
Twenty-six (43.3%) of 60 asymptomatic HBV carriers with HBeAg negative were found to have hot spot mutations in HBVBCP, among which 20 cases were accompanied by the mutation of nt 1896 in HBV Pre-C region. Hot-spot mutation in HBVBCP, however, occurred only in 3(10%) of 30 asymptomatic HBV carriers with HBeAg positive. For further investigation the HBVBCP hot spot mutations in asymptomatic HBV carriers without mutation of HBV Pre-C region were studied. Six(31.6%) of 19 asymptomatic HBV carriers with HBeAg negative were found to have hot spot mutation in HBVBCP. Two(7.1%) of 28 asymptomatic HBV carriers with HBeAg positive had hot spot mutations in HBVBCP, and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Hot spot mutations in HBVBCP is common in the HBV carriers with HBeAg negative and usually accompanies with nt1896 mutation of HBV Pre-C region. It is possible that Hot spot mutation in HBVBCP is a new reason of HBeAg negative HBV infection.
Gong
G Z
GZ
Center of Liver Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410011.
Ding
Q
Q
Zheng
X H
XH
Li
L Y
LY
Lai
L Y
LY
Huang
L
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins