Mutations in preS genes of genotype C hepatitis B virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS mutations are frequently isolated from patients with severe forms of liver disease. Meanwhile, genotype C has been shown to cause more serious liver disease than genotype B. This study assesses the frequency of preS mutation in Chinese patients with genotype C chronic HBV infection and its relation to liver damage.


METHODS
Seventy-nine persistently infected patients (25 asymptomatic carriers, 28 with chronic hepatitis, and 26 with hepatocellular carcinoma) with genotype C HBV were analyzed. Levels of HBV DNA, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate transaminase and mutations in the preS region were determined.


RESULTS
The correlations of preS deletion with disease progression were distinct: preS deletion mutations were more commonly found in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group than in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or asymptomatic carrier (ASC) groups, with the frequencies of 38.46% (10/26) in the HCC, 7.14% (2/28) in the CHB, and 4.00% (1/25) in the ASC (P = 0.001) groups. The HBeAg-positive rate and HBV DNA levels were comparable between patients with the preS mutation and those without.


CONCLUSIONS
PreS deletion mutations of genotype C HBV might play a role in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.
Gao
Zhi Yong
ZY
Department of Microbiology, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, 100083, Beijing, China.
Li
Tong
T
Wang
Jia
J
Du
Ji Mei
JM
Li
Ya Juan
YJ
Li
Jie
J
Lu
Feng Min
FM
Zhuang
Hui
H
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen