Sequence analysis of pre-S/surface and pre-core/core promoter genes of ...

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J Med Virol 2002 Oct;68(2):216-20Related Articles, Links

Sequence analysis of pre-S/surface and pre-core/core promoter genes of
hepatitis B virus in chronic hepatitis C patients with occult HBV infection.

Kao JH, Chen PJ, Lai MY, Chen DS.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of
Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Although occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in individuals without
detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may occur and has been
reported to be common in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the related
molecular mechanisms remain unknown. With the polymerase chain reaction,
serum HBV DNA was sought in 100 HBsAg-negative patients with chronic
hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection. In those with occult HBV infection,
possible genomic variability of HBV was evaluated by amplification and
direct sequencing of pre-S, surface, and pre-core/core promoter genes. In
total, 10 of the 100 patients (10%) had detectable serum HBV DNA,
documenting an occult HBV infection. A deletion mutant in the pre-S gene was
found in one patient and mutations of the a determinant of HBsAg were
observed in 2. In addition, a novel core promoter mutant (a dinucleotide
substitution: T-to-C at nucleotide 1,802 and T-to-G at nucleotide 1,803,
T1802C/T1803G) was found frequently in patients with occult HBV infection as
compared to sex- and age-matched HBsAg-positive patients (80 vs. 10%, P <
0.001). In conclusion, the data suggest occult HBV infection is not uncommon
in chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan, and a novel core promoter mutant
may be associated with the absence of circulating HBsAg in these patients.
J. Med. Virol. 68:216-220, 2002. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 12210410 [PubMed - in process]