Sister chromatid exchange and mitotic index in patients with cirrhosis related to hepatitis B and C viruses and in chronic carriers.
OBJECTIVE
It is controversial whether hepatitis B or C viruses induce liver cancer through non-specific mechanisms (inflammation and cell renewal) or direct genotoxicity. Considering that both viruses infect peripheral lymphocytes, studying sister chromatid exchange frequency and mitotic index in peripheral lymphocytes is a reasonable experimental approach to investigate their genotoxic potential separately. In the present study we investigated sister chromatid exchange frequency and mitotic index in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with cirrhosis and chronic carriers with positive serology for HBV or HCV infections.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 3 groups: group I involved 23 HBsAg positive chronic carriers; group II involved 30 HBsAg positive patients with cirrhosis and group III involved 9 HCV-positive patients with cirrhosis. The control group involved 30 healthy individuals.


RESULTS
Sister chromatid exchange frequency was significantly higher in all the study groups than the control group (p < 0.05). The mitotic index was significantly lower in all the study groups than the control group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased sister chromatid exchange frequency and low mitotic index may be reflecting a direct genotoxic effect of HBV and HCV in peripheral lymphocytes. We suggest that the same genotoxicity may also operate in the liver and contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis.
Ucur
Ali
A
Division of Medical Genetics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey.
Palanduz
Sukru
S
Cefle
Kivanc
K
Ozturk
Sukru
S
Tutkan
Gulcin
G
Vatansever
Sezai
S
Erden
Sacide
S
Karan
Mehmet Akif
MA
Erten
Nilgun
N
Guler
Kerim
K
Tascioglu
Cemil
C
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D014774:Virulence
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies