title: The genotoxic effects of hepatitis B virus to host DNA.
abstract: Chronic viral hepatitis is the main cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma throughout the world. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has mutagenic effects on somatic cells. HBV may be showing these mutagenic effects through its viral proteins or through integrating into host DNA. The aim of this study was to determine whether HBV has a genotoxic effect on host DNA or not. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of 31 chronic HBV patients and 20 chronic HBV carriers were cultured in order to make cytogenetic evaluation by observing chromosome breakage and cytological evaluation by the micronucleus (MN) test. Their results were compared with 20 healthy controls. For each individual, 100 metaphase chromosome spreads were analysed. Around 190-1091 binucleated cells were observed and MN were scored for each individual. Our results showed significantly higher frequencies of chromosome breaks in chronic HBV patients and in HBV carriers than in the control group. There was no difference in MN scores among HBV patients, HBV carriers and healthy carriers. Based on our data, we conclude that chronic HBV patients and carriers have chromosomal instability and that HBV carriers are as affected as patients because of their same chromosome breakage levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ozkal@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ozkal
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ilgin-Ruhi
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akdogan
authors.forename: Atilla Halil
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Elhan
authors.forename: Sabite
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaçar
authors.forename: Nurgül
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D004247:DNA