GB virus-C RNA in Japanese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis

Human Pegivirus Type 1: A Common Human Virus That Is Beneficial in Immune-Mediated Disease?

Two groups identified a novel human flavivirus in the mid-1990s. One group named the virus hepatitis G virus (HGV) and the other named it GB Virus type C (GBV-C). Sequence analyses found these two isolates to be the same virus, and subsequent studies found that the virus does not cause hepatitis despite sharing genome organization with hepatitis C virus. Although HGV/GBV-C infection is common and may cause persistent infection in humans, the virus does not appear to directly cause any other known disease state. Thus, the virus was renamed “human pegivirus 1” (HPgV-1) for “persistent G” virus. HPgV-1 is found primarily in lymphocytes and not hepatocytes, and several studies found HPgV-1 infection associated with prolonged survival in people living with HIV. Co-infection of human lymphocytes with HPgV-1 and HIV inhibits HIV replication. Although three viral proteins directly inhibit HIV replication in vitro, the major effects of HPgV-1 leading to reduced HIV-related mortality appear to result from a global reduction in immune activation. HPgV-1 specifically interferes with T cell receptor signaling (TCR) by reducing proximal activation of the lymphocyte specific Src kinase LCK. Although TCR signaling is reduced, T cell activation is not abolished and with sufficient stimulus, T cell functions are enabled. Consequently, HPgV-1 is not associated with immune suppression. The HPgV-1 immunomodulatory effects are associated with beneficial outcomes in other diseases including Ebola virus infection and possibly graft-versus-host-disease following stem cell transplantation. Better understanding of HPgV-1 immune escape and mechanisms of inflammation may identify novel therapies for immune-based diseases.

Discovery of a Novel Simian Pegivirus in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with Lymphocytic Enterocolitis

From 2010 to 2015, 73 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) housed at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) were diagnosed postmortem with lymphocytic enterocolitis. We used unbiased deep-sequencing to screen the blood of deceased enterocolitis-positive marmosets for viruses. In five out of eight common marmosets with lymphocytic enterocolitis, we discovered a novel pegivirus not present in ten matched, clinically normal controls. The novel virus, which we named Southwest bike trail virus (SOBV), is most closely related (68% nucleotide identity) to a strain of simian pegivirus A isolated from a three-striped night monkey (Aotus trivirgatus). We screened 146 living WNPRC common marmosets for SOBV, finding an overall prevalence of 34% (50/146). Over four years, 85 of these 146 animals died or were euthanized. Histological examination revealed 27 SOBV-positive marmosets from this cohort had lymphocytic enterocolitis, compared to 42 SOBV-negative marmosets, indicating no association between SOBV and disease in this cohort (p = 0.0798). We also detected SOBV in two of 33 (6%) clinically normal marmosets screened during transfer from the New England Primate Research Center, suggesting SOBV could be exerting confounding influences on comparisons of common marmoset studies from multiple colonies.

Short article: Hepatitis C and G virus coinfection in Punjab, Pakistan: incidence and its correlation analysis with clinical data

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection appears to be common in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HCV/HGV in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Pakistan and to look for possible associations with various clinical and histopathological changes in HCV/HGV coinfection and HCV infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study included 136 patients. Clinical, biochemical, virological and histological findings were compared between patients coinfected with HCV/HGV and patients with HCV alone.

RESULTS

Of the 136 patients with CHC, 16 (11.76%) were coinfected with HCV/HGV. The mean age of coinfected patients was lower than in patients with HCV alone. HCV/HGV coinfected patients did not show significant differences in sex, clinical presentation, biochemical markers, and liver fibrosis as compared to those with HCV infection. Only the mean values of platelets count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCH concentration markers were significantly different in HCV/HGV coinfected patients as compare to patients with HCV alone.

CONCLUSION

It was found that 11.76% of patients with CHC in Pakistan were associated with HCV/HGV coinfection. No significant differences were observed in clinical and histological features except for platelets count, MCH, and MCH concentration markers between HCV and HGV coinfected patients in comparison with HCV-infected patients.

Infections of the Liver

The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver and in so doing carries microbes as well. The liver may therefore be involved in infections with a myriad number of microbial organisms. While some of these infections most commonly occur in the immunocompromised host, others affect the immune competence. Hepatic infections may be primary in nature or secondary, as part of systemic or contagious disease. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the various infections of the liver in the pediatric patient.

Hepatitis viruses (other than hepatitis B and C viruses) as causes of hepatocellular carcinoma: an update

Chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections are universally accepted as causes of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. Hepatitis A and E viruses cause only acute self-limiting infections of the liver. Of the remaining hepatitis viruses - Delta hepatitis, hepatitis G (GB-C), TT and SEN - all have at some time been incriminated as causes of hepatocellular carcinoma. Delta hepatitis virus requires helper functions from hepatitis B virus to become invasive. Chronic Delta/hepatitis B viral co-infection runs a more severe course than that resulting from chronic hepatitis B virus infection alone, with progression to cirrhosis being more likely and more rapid. A substantial majority of the early studies did not find an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in co-infected individuals. But more recently, an increased incidence of the tumour has been recorded more often than no increase. Further studies are needed to draw a firm conclusion with regard to the hepatocarcinogenic effect of dual Delta/hepatitis B virus co-infection. With one exception, no published study (of 13) has incriminated chronic infection with hepatitis G virus as a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. The dissenting study, published in 1999, was the only one performed in the United States. Fewer studies of the hepatocarcinogenic effect of TT virus have been performed. Apart from one study, published in 1999, no convincing evidence is available that supports a causal role for TT virus in hepatocarcinogenesis. The exception was in Japanese patients with high hepatitis C viral loads but independent of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. No evidence has been produced to indicate that SEN virus causes hepatocellular carcinoma.

Role of GB virus C in HIV-1-infected and hepatitis C virus-infected hemophiliac children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

GB Virus C (GBV-C) has been associated with a better prognosis of HIV-1 disease in adults. Little is known about prevalence and interaction between GBV-C, HIV-1, and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemophiliac children and adolescents.

METHODS

A well-characterized cohort of HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected hemophiliac children and adolescents followed in the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study (HGDS) were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect GBV-C RNA in samples from baseline and last follow-up visit.

RESULTS

HIV-1-infected (n = 202) and HIV-1-uninfected (n = 119) patients had a low prevalence of GBV-C infection at baseline (0.9 and 0%), which increased at time of last follow-up visit to 25.2% and 26.3%, respectively. In addition, at the time of the follow-up GBV-C measurement, those GBV-C infected had been followed longer and had higher CD4(+) cell counts and lower HIV-1 viral loads than those GBV-C uninfected. These beneficial effects of GBV-C were no longer significant after controlling for CD4(+) cell count and HIV-1 RNA at baseline. HCV RNA clearance was more common amongst those who were not GBV-C infected than those who became GBV-C viremic.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms a positive association of GBV-C with milder course of HIV-1 infection. GBV-C infection was associated with a higher likelihood of persistent HCV infection.

Role of GB virus C in HIV-1-infected and hepatitis C virus-infected hemophiliac children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

GB Virus C (GBV-C) has been associated with a better prognosis of HIV-1 disease in adults. Little is known about prevalence and interaction between GBV-C, HIV-1, and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemophiliac children and adolescents.

METHODS

A well-characterized cohort of HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected hemophiliac children and adolescents followed in the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study (HGDS) were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect GBV-C RNA in samples from baseline and last follow-up visit.

RESULTS

HIV-1-infected (n = 202) and HIV-1-uninfected (n = 119) patients had a low prevalence of GBV-C infection at baseline (0.9 and 0%), which increased at time of last follow-up visit to 25.2% and 26.3%, respectively. In addition, at the time of the follow-up GBV-C measurement, those GBV-C infected had been followed longer and had higher CD4(+) cell counts and lower HIV-1 viral loads than those GBV-C uninfected. These beneficial effects of GBV-C were no longer significant after controlling for CD4(+) cell count and HIV-1 RNA at baseline. HCV RNA clearance was more common amongst those who were not GBV-C infected than those who became GBV-C viremic.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms a positive association of GBV-C with milder course of HIV-1 infection. GBV-C infection was associated with a higher likelihood of persistent HCV infection.

Viral metagenomics

Characterisation of new viruses is often hindered by difficulties in amplifying them in cell culture, limited antigenic/serological cross-reactivity or the lack of nucleic acid hybridisation to known viral sequences. Numerous molecular methods have been used to genetically characterise new viruses without prior in vitro replication or the use of virus-specific reagents. In the recent metagenomic studies viral particles from uncultured environmental and clinical samples have been purified and their nucleic acids randomly amplified prior to subcloning and sequencing. Already known and novel viruses were then identified by comparing their translated sequence to those of viral proteins in public sequence databases. Metagenomic approaches to viral characterisation have been applied to seawater, near shore sediments, faeces, serum, plasma and respiratory secretions and have broadened the range of known viral diversity. Selection of samples with high viral loads, purification of viral particles, removal of cellular nucleic acids, efficient sequence-independent amplification of viral RNA and DNA, recognisable sequence similarities to known viral sequences and deep sampling of the nucleic acid populations through large scale sequencing can all improve the yield of new viruses. This review lists some of the animal viruses recently identified using sequence-independent methods, current laboratory and bioinformatics methods, together with their limitations and potential improvements. Viral metagenomic approaches provide novel opportunities to generate an unbiased characterisation of the viral populations in various organisms and environments.

[Is GB virus C alias "hepatitis" G virus involved in human pathology?]

GB virus-C alias "hepatitis" virus G was discovered in 1995 as a putative causative virus of non A-E hepatitis. It is a very common virus found in 1 to 5% of eligible blood donors in developed countries. Numerous studies over seven years led to the exclusion of its role as a significant etiological agent of hepatitis. Its in vivo replication site is still unknown. Its direct involvement in the induction of significant hepatic or extra-hepatic diseases could not be demonstrated. However, coinfections with other viruses may contribute to changes in the evolution of both liver disease (negatively) and HIV/AIDS (favourably). Today, no country has decided to screen GBV-C in blood donors. However, more studies are necessary before the absence of influence of GBV-C infection on human health in the context of other viral infections could be confirmed definitely. This article is a review of the literature on a possible involvement of GBV-C in pathologies whether associated or not to other infections.

Weak association between SEN virus viremia and liver disease

Recently, a novel DNA virus designated SEN virus (SEN-V), which is thought to be related to posttransfusion hepatitis, was discovered. The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between SEN-V infection and the development of liver disease. We examined SEN-V from the sera of 21 patients with non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 13 patients with non-B, non-C chronic liver disease (CLD) without HCC who were admitted to our hospital between 1995 and 1997. Thirty-two patients without liver disease served as controls and were also examined for SEN-V. SEN-V DNA was detected by the nested PCR method after extraction of DNA from serum. SEN-V DNA was detected in 74% (25 of 34) of patients with CLD with or without HCC who were negative for both hepatitis B virus surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody. SEN-V DNA was detected in 69% (9 of 13) of CLD patients without HCC and in 76% (16 of 21) of HCC patients. The prevalence of SEN-V was no higher in patients with liver disease than in patients without liver disease (24 of 32; 75%). There were no significant differences in age, sex, liver function, history of blood transfusion, or amount of alcohol intake between SEN-V-positive and SEN-V-negative CLD and HCC patients. Genetic analysis suggested that SEN-V is closely related to the TT virus family. SEN-V was detected at almost the same frequency in patients with and without liver disease. SEN-V does not seem to contribute either to the pathogenesis of liver disease or to the development of HCC from chronic liver disease.

Hepatocellular carcinoma--cause, treatment and metastasis

In the recent decades, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been found to be increasing in males in some countries. In China, HCC ranked second of cancer mortality since 1990s. Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) and dietary aflatoxin intake remain the major causative factors of HCC. Surgery plays a major role in the treatment of HCC, particularly for small HCC. Down-staging unresectable huge HCC to smaller HCC and followed by resection will probably be a new approach for further study. Liver transplantation is indicated for small HCC, however, some issues remain to be solved. Different modes of regional cancer therapy for HCC have been tried. Systemic chemotherapy has been disappointing in the past but the future can be promising. Biotherapy, such as cytokines, differentiation inducers, anti-angiogenic agents, gene therapy and tumor vaccine will probably play a role, particularly in the prevention of tumor recurrence. HCC invasiveness is currently the major target of study. Tremendous works have been done at the molecular level, which will provide clues for biomarker of HCC progression as well as targets for intervention.

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV): still looking for a disease

GB Virus C and Hepatitis G Virus (GBV-C/HGV) are positive, single-stranded flaviviruses. GBV-C and HGV are independent isolates of the same virus. Transmission via the blood-borne route is the commonest mode, although vertical and sexual transmission is well documented. GBV-C/HGV is distributed globally; its prevalence in the general population is 10 fold higher in African countries than in non-African countries. High prevalences of GBV-C/HGV have been found in subjects with frequent parenteral exposure and in groups at high risk of exposure to blood and blood products. The clinical significance of human infection with GBV-C/HGV is currently unclear. The virus can establish both acute and chronic infection and appears to be sensitive to interferon. Only some 12-15% of chronic Non-A, B, C hepatitis cases are infected with GBV-C/HGV. A direct association with liver pathology is still lacking and it is not yet clear as to whether GBV-C/HGV is indeed a hepatotropic virus. Current evidence suggests that the spectrum of association of GBV-C/HGV infection with extrahepatic diseases ranges from haematalogical diseases, aplastic anaemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenia and thalassemia, through to common variable immune deficiency and cryoglobunemia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma arising in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The incidence and significance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been previously evaluated in detail. We recently experienced a case of NASH with multicentric HCC in a female patient. At the age of 58 years, the patient was diagnosed with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, treated by insulin therapy. The patient did not drink alcohol. She was negative for all serological markers of hepatitis B and C virus infection. Because of liver dysfunction, a needle biopsy was performed at the age of 62 years, and pathological findings, such as fatty change, Mallory's body, nuclear glycogen and pericellular fibrosis, suggested a diagnosis of NASH. Subsequently, four nodules were detected in the liver by imaging. Liver biopsies were performed from each nodule. One nodule was pathologically diagnosed as a pseudolymphoma, while three other nodules were moderately differentiated HCC (10 years after the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), well-differentiated HCC (11 years later) and dysplastic nodule (11 years later), suggesting multicentric occurrence of HCC. This case suggests that HCC could be a late complication of NASH.

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV): still looking for a disease

GB Virus C and Hepatitis G Virus (GBV-C/HGV) are positive, single-stranded flaviviruses. GBV-C and HGV are independent isolates of the same virus. Transmission via the blood-borne route is the commonest mode, although vertical and sexual transmission is well documented. GBV-C/HGV is distributed globally; its prevalence in the general population is 10 fold higher in African countries than in non-African countries. High prevalences of GBV-C/HGV have been found in subjects with frequent parenteral exposure and in groups at high risk of exposure to blood and blood products. The clinical significance of human infection with GBV-C/HGV is currently unclear. The virus can establish both acute and chronic infection and appears to be sensitive to interferon. Only some 12-15% of chronic Non-A, B, C hepatitis cases are infected with GBV-C/HGV. A direct association with liver pathology is still lacking and it is not yet clear as to whether GBV-C/HGV is indeed a hepatotropic virus. Current evidence suggests that the spectrum of association of GBV-C/HGV infection with extrahepatic diseases ranges from haematalogical diseases, aplastic anaemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenia and thalassemia, through to common variable immune deficiency and cryoglobunemia.

Existence of distinct GB virus C/hepatitis G virus variants with different tropism

To study the existence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) variants with different tropism, we have analyzed the heterogeneity and quasispecies composition of GBV-C/HGV isolated from in vitro-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and from sera, livers, and PBMC from two chronically infected patients. For this purpose, the GBV-C/HGV 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR and the amplified products were cloned and sequenced. These analyses showed that the master 5'NCR sequences isolated from the in vitro-infected PBMC and from the PBMC isolated from the patient whose serum was used as the inoculum were identical but different from that of the inoculum. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that all PBMC sequences grouped together into a branch which was separate from those of the inoculum. For one of the two chronically infected patients, all the sequences from the PBMC and one from the liver clustered into a single branch while the sequences from the serum and all the other liver sequences grouped together in the other branch. For the other patient, the sequences from the serum and PBMC and three sequences from the liver grouped together into one branch, while the remaining five sequences from the liver were separated in a different cluster. In conclusion, our results support the existence of different GBV-C/HGV variants with different tissue tropism.

Sequence-motif analysis of 5'-untranslated region of GB virus-C in Japanese patients

BACKGROUND

GB Virus C (GBV-C) is considered to belong to the Flaviviridae; however, the structures of the N-terminal end of its putative polyprotein are not well known. The internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) at the 5'-untranslated region of GBV-C and an initiating codon at nucleotides (nt) 552-554 have been proposed. We investigated the validity of this proposal.

METHODS

The 5'-untranslated region of GBV-C was amplified from serum samples of 17 Japanese patients. Polymerase chain reaction-amplified products were directly sequenced and the obtained sequences were analysed by comparing them with the IRES structure of other viruses.

RESULTS

Fifteen of the 17 (88%) GBV-C strains in our patients were classified as being Asian type. The box-A-like sequence (UUUC) and box-B-like sequence (AUCAUGG) observed in the IRES of picornaviruses were highly conserved in all the strains. Based on pair-wise comparisons with the multiple alignment data, overall sequence divergence for the 5'-terminus was 2.9-12%. When compared with the proposed secondary structure of the IRES model, the sequence divergences of the Asian-type GBV-C were higher at the regions of loop structures and lower at the regions of double-stranded RNA. The AUG codons, except for the one located at nt 552-554, produced truncated polyproteins or were not in-frame with the putative protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Our examination of the sequence motif of GBV-C supports the proposal that the GBV-C has common structural motifs for IRES at its 5'-untranslated region and the AUG codon at nt 552-554 may be an initiating codon.

Chronic infection with hepatitis G virus in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma among non-Asians in Los Angeles County, California

BACKGROUND

The recently identified hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a hepatotropic RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. The virus causes chronic viremia, and exposure to blood products is a recognized route of transmission in humans. To the authors' knowledge there is scant information regarding the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HGV. The current study examined the association between HGV infection and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

A population-based, case-control study involving 144 non-Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were ages 18-74 years at diagnosis and 252 community controls of similar age, gender, and race was conducted in Los Angeles, California. Study subjects were assessed for serologic markers of infections with the hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen, and antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV and HCV RNA), and HGV (HGV RNA).

RESULTS

Twelve of the 144 hepatocellular carcinoma patients (8.3%) and 5 of the 252 control subjects (2.0%) were positive for serum HGV RNA. The presence of HGV RNA in the serum was associated with a statistically significant 5.4-fold risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (95% confidence limit, 1.8, 16.6). The excess risk for hepatocellular carcinoma among HGV-infected individuals was independent of the effects of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic infection with HGV may play a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. If the observed statistical association is a causal one, then infection with HGV may account for approximately 8% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases occurring in non-Asians in Los Angeles, California.

Pathogenicity of GBV-C/HGV infection

Extensive studies of GBV-C/HGV in acute and chronic hepatitis non-A-non-E have failed to provide hard evidence for a major role in this disease. Persistent GBV-C/HGV viraemia is in most cases associated with normal ALT levels, and only in a minority of patients are mild elevations of aminotransferases found. Its disease-inducing capacity is questionable and the findings accumulated so far are best explained by looking at GBV-C/HGV as a well-adapted, predominantly parenterally transmitted, persistent virus; it might be transmitted concomitantly with another, still unidentified hepatitis non-A-non-E virus. This does not exclude the possibility that GBV-C/HGV might, in some rare cases and under certain circumstances, induce a hepatitis-like illness as seen with other viruses such as EBV or CMV. GBV-C/HGV definitely plays a minor role only, if any, in post-transfusion and community-acquired hepatitis non-A-non-E.

Prevalence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection in patients with cryptogenic chronic liver disease and in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or Wilson's disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in cryptogenic chronic liver disease (CLD), we investigated the prevalence of HGV RNA among patients with cryptogenic CLD, patients with nonviral CLD (primary biliary cirrhosis [PBC] and Wilson's disease [WD]) and subjects without clinically evident liver disease (controls).

METHODS

Ninety patients with cryptogenic CLD (43 with chronic hepatitis, 20 with cirrhosis, and 27 with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), 143 patients with PBC, 22 patients with WD, and 134 controls were recruited. HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antibodies against HGV E2 protein (anti-E2) by an immunoassay test.

RESULTS

HGV RNA was detected in 7.8% of patients with cryptogenic CLD (chronic hepatitis, 9.3%; cirrhosis, 5.0%; HCC, 7.4%), in 2.4% of patients with PBC or WD, and in 2.2% of controls. As a consequence, a positive association of HGV infection with cryptogenic CLD was found (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-9.7; p = 0.05). No difference was observed between HGV RNA-positive and -negative patients by age, sex, histology, or liver function tests. Anti-E2 prevalence did not differ between patients with cryptogenic CLD (26.5%), patients with PBC (28.1%), and controls (22.1%). Transfusion history was associated with HGV RNA but not with anti-E2 seropositivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although an association was found between cryptogenic CLD and HGV infection, the role of the virus seems far from important, the proportion of cryptogenic CLD attributable to it being only 5.2%.

Quantitative analysis of GBV-C RNA in liver and serum by strand-specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Although GB virus C (GBV-C) is frequently detectable in patients with liver diseases, it is not known whether it actually replicates in the liver. Therefore we have quantitatively examined the strand-specific RNA of this virus.

METHODS

Fourteen patients (two GBV-C RNA only seropositive, seven both GBV-C RNA and HCV RNA seropositive, and five HCV RNA only seropositive) were examined. Extracted RNAs from sera and liver specimens of these patients were serially diluted and strand-specific RNAs of GBV-C and HCV were quantitatively measured using strand-specific primers by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Positive-strand GBV-C RNA in serum was detected in all nine GBV-C RNA seropositive cases, and negative-strand RNA was detected in three, uncertain in three, and undetected in three. Positive-strand GBV-C RNA in the liver was detected in seven and undetected in two, while negative-strand RNA in the liver was undetected in eight and uncertain in one. On the other hand, positive-strand HCV RNA was detected in serum from all 12 HCV RNA seropositive patients and negative-strand HCV RNA was detected in one, uncertain in seven, and undetected in four. Positive-strand HCV RNA was detected in the liver from all 12 HCV RNA seropositive patients, and the presence of negative-strand HCV RNA in the liver was confirmed in 10 and uncertain in the remaining two.

CONCLUSION

GBV-C is considered to be far less hepatotropic than HCV, and it is suggested that GBV-C might not be replicating in the liver.