Genomic and antigenomic chains of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus in serum, liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
OBJECTIVE
To determine HCV and HGV replication sites in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to study interaction between these two viruses.


METHODS
HGV RNA was studied in 272 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Of these, 35 were positive (group I). Twenty-three patients with chronic hepatitis C not co-infected with HGV were selected (group II).


RESULTS
Genomic and antigenomic chains of HCV were studied in both groups and those of HGV in group I in serum samples, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver tissue. In group I genomic chains of HCV and HGV were observed in 86 and 100%, respectively (ns), in serum samples (n = 35), and antigenomic chains in 17 and 23%, respectively (ns). In mononuclear cell samples (n = 15) 100% presented the genomic chain of HCV and 60% presented that of HGV (p < 0.05). Antigenomic chains were detected in 13 and 33%, respectively (ns). In liver tissue (n = 25) genomic chains were observed in 100 and 12%, respectively (p < 0.001); the antigenomic chain of HCV was detected in 76% while that of HGV was not present (p < 0.001). In group II genomic chains of HCV were found to be present in a very high percentage in all samples, while antigenomic chains appeared in 13% of serum and mononuclear cell samples and 89% of liver samples.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV and HGV have different sites of replication: whereas HCV replicates mainly in the liver, HGV is not hepatotropic. Mononuclear cells could represent a replication site for HGV but they are less important for HCV. Lastly, HGV does not modify the viral replication of HCV.
Torres
C
C
Digestive Service, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Avda. Dr. Olóriz, 16. 18012 Granada.
Muñoz de Rueda
P
P
Ruiz-Extremera
A
A
Quintero
D
D
Palacios
A
A
Salmerón
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral