Mutations around interferon sensitivity-determining region: a pilot resistance report of hepatitis C virus 1b in a Hong Kong population.
OBJECTIVE
To explore mutations around the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) which are associated with the resistance of hepatitis C virus 1b (HCV-1b) to interferon-α treatment.


METHODS
Thirty-seven HCV-1b samples were obtained from Hong Kong patients who had completed the combined interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for more than one year with available response data. Nineteen of them were sustained virological responders, while 18 were non-responders. The amino acid sequences of the extended ISDR (eISDR) covering 64 amino acids upstream and 67 amino acids downstream from the previously reported ISDR were analyzed.


RESULTS
One amino acid variation (I2268V, P = 0.023) was significantly correlated with treatment outcome in this pilot study with a limited number of patients, while two amino acid variations (R2260H, P = 0.05 and S2278T, P = 0.05) were weakly associated with treatment outcome. The extent of amino acid variations within the ISDR or eISDR was not correlated with treatment outcome as previously reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Three amino acid mutations near but outside of ISDR may associate with interferon treatment resistance of HCV-1b patients in Hong Kong.
Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China. xmzhou@shmu.edu.cn
Xiao-Ming
XM
Zhou
Paul Ks
PK
Chan
John S
JS
Tam
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha