Yonsei Med J.  2017 May;58(3):557-563. 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.557.

Occult HBV among Anti-HBc Alone: Mutation Analysis of an HBV Surface Gene and Pre-S Gene

• Kim MH
• Kang SY
• Lee WI

• KMID: 2419113
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.557

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in "˜anti-HBc alone' subjects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-four patients with "˜anti-HBc alone' and 20 control patients diagnosed with HBV were analyzed regarding S and pre-S gene mutations. All specimens were analyzed for HBs Ag, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs. For specimens with an anti-HBc alone, quantitative analysis of HBV DNA, as well as sequencing and mutation analysis of S and pre-S genes, were performed.
RESULTS
A total 24 were analyzed for the S gene, and 14 were analyzed for the pre-S gene through sequencing. A total of 20 control patients were analyzed for S and pre-S gene simultaneously. Nineteen point mutations of the major hydrophilic region were found in six of 24 patients. Among them, three mutations, S114T, P127S/T, M133T, were detected in common. Only one mutation was found in five subjects of the control group; this mutation was not found in the occult HBV infection group, however. Pre-S mutations were detected in 10 patients, and mutations of site aa58-aa100 were detected in 9 patients. A mutation on D114E was simultaneously detected. Although five mutations from the control group were found at the same location (aa58-aa100), no mutations of occult HBV infection were detected.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of occult HBV infection is not low among "˜anti-HBc alone' subjects. Variable mutations in the S gene and pre-S gene were associated with the occurrence of occult HBV infection. Further larger scale studies are required to determine the significance of newly detected mutations.

Keyword

Occult HBV infection; HBV S gene mutation; HBV pre-S gene mutation

MeSH Terms

Adult
DNA Mutational Analysis
DNA, Viral/*blood
Female
Hepatitis B/immunology/*virology
Hepatitis B Antibodies/*blood
Hepatitis B Core Antigens/*immunology
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood/*genetics/immunology
Hepatitis B virus/*genetics/*isolation & purification
Humans
Immunologic Factors
Male
Middle Aged
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutation
Prevalence
Serum/virology
Viral Load
DNA, Viral
Hepatitis B Antibodies
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Immunologic Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Amino acid sequences of major hydrophilic region (100–160) including ‘a’ determinant (124–147, shadow) in hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene of 24 patients with occult HBV infection.

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