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HGV/GBV-C in liver tissue and in sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C
P Fabris1, M R Biasin, D Infantolino
1Dept. of Infectious Diseases, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
Insights
Hepatitis G virus/GB virus C (HGV/GBV-C) coinfection is prevalent in chronic hepatitis C patients, particularly among intravenous drug users. Coinfection did not significantly alter liver disease severity or biochemistry.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects millions globally.
- Hepatitis G virus/GB virus C (HGV/GBV-C) is a flavivirus that can coinfect individuals with HCV.
- The impact of HGV/GBV-C coinfection on the natural history and progression of HCV-related liver disease remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HGV/GBV-C infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- To investigate the impact of HGV/GBV-C coinfection on liver biochemistry and histology in HCV patients.
- To explore the potential role of the liver as a site of HGV/GBV-C replication.
Main Methods:
- Nested PCR and DEIA were used to detect HGV/GBV-C RNA and HCV-RNA in serum and liver specimens from 48 chronic hepatitis C patients.
- Antibodies to HGV/GBV-C E2 protein were assayed in patient sera.
- Negative strand RT-PCR was employed to assess HGV/GBV-C replication in liver tissue.
Main Results:
- HGV/GBV-C RNA was detected in 19% of patients, and anti-E2 antibodies in 46%.
- The cumulative prevalence of HGV/GBV-C infection was 65%, with 84% of coinfected individuals being intravenous drug users (IVDUs).
- HGV/GBV-C and HCV coinfection did not show significant differences in biochemistry or liver histology compared to HCV infection alone.
- HGV/GBV-C RNA negative strand was not detected in liver specimens, suggesting the liver is unlikely to be the primary replication site.
Conclusions:
- HGV/GBV-C coinfection is common in chronic hepatitis C patients, especially IVDUs.
- HGV/GBV-C coinfection does not appear to worsen liver disease severity or alter biochemical parameters in HCV patients.
- The liver is unlikely to be the primary site of HGV/GBV-C replication.
Abstract:
Forty-eight persons (M = 45, F = 3; age range = 20-53, mean = 32.2) affected with chronic hepatitis C were tested for HGV/GBV-C RNA and HCV-RNA by nested PCR and DEIA in serum and in liver specimens to evaluate the prevalence and the impact of HGV/GBV-C coinfection in patients with chronic HCV-related hepatitis. Sera were also assayed for antibodies to HGV/GBV-C E2 protein. Serum HGV/GBV-RNA could be detected in nine (19%) patients, and anti-E2 antibodies in 22 (46%) patients. The presence of HGV/GBV-C RNA or anti-E2 antibodies was mutually exclusive. The cumulative prevalence of HGV/GBV-C infection was 65% (31/48); the majority of these patients (26/31, 84%) were intravenous drug users (IVDUs). In eight of nine patients viraemic for HGV/GBV-C, RNA positivity could be revealed even in liver specimens; these eight patients were also positive for HCV-RNA both in serum and the liver and did not exhibit any specific association with HCV genotype. HGV/GBV-C RNA negative strand RT-PCR testing was negative in all of the eight liver specimens, providing little support to the hypothesis that liver represents the primary site of HGV/GBV-C replication. Moreover, patients with HGV/GBV-C and HCV coinfection were comparable to those with HCV infection alone in terms of biochemistry and liver histology.