Allelic frequencies of HPA-1 to 5 human platelet antigens in patients infected with hepatitis C virus.
Studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) may infect not only hepatocytes but may also be carried by platelets. Platelets express more than 20 polymorphic antigenic determinants on their surface, which are called human platelet antigens (HPA). To determine the allele frequency of the HPA-1 to -5 in patients infected with HCV, blood samples were collected from 257 blood donors for the control group and from 191 patients infected with HCV. DNA was isolated and amplified for genes HPA-1 to -4 using PCR Sequence Specific Primers (PCR-SSP) and HPA-5 using PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The allelic and genotypic frequency of HPA-5a in patients infected with HCV was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in the controls, and HPA-5b from patients infected with HCV was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in controls. The increase in HPA-5b allelic frequency in HCV infection may indicate a possible association between HCV infection and HPAs.
Verdichio-Moraes
Camila Fernanda
CF
Molecular Biology Laboratory of Blood Transfusion Center, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil.
Toralles-Pereira
Cecília
C
Grotto
Rejane Maria Tommasini
RM
Silva
Giovanni Faria
GF
Pardini
Maria Inês de Moura Campos
MI
D000483:Alleles; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans
C055973:5b alloantigen, human; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet