GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in patients investigated for chronic liver disease and in the general population in southern Sweden

Serum samples from patients referred for liver biopsy for investigation of suspected chronic liver disease (n = 286) and from healthy middle-aged volunteers (n = 445) were analyzed for markers of exposure to GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. GBV-C/HGV analyses included GBV-C/HGV PCR for detection of viremia and GBV-C/HGV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies. Liver biopsies were re-evaluated by a hepatopathologist. GBV-C/HGV markers were detected in 97/286 (34%) patients (GBV-C/HGV RNA = 26; anti-GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies = 74) compared to 86/445 (19%; p < 0.0001) controls (GBV-C/HGV RNA = 7, anti-GBB-C/HGV E2 antibodies = 79). A significantly higher proportion of GBV-C/HGV-exposed subjects in the patient group were viremic compared to controls (27% vs. 8.1%; p = 0.0015). GBV-C/HGV markers were more commonly found in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. In patients with GBV-C/HGV viremia, a higher occurrence of bile duct degeneration was detected than in non-viremic patients. Markers of GBV-C/HGV infection were over-represented among patients investigated for chronic liver disease, and ongoing GBV-C/HGV viremia was more common in this group than in controls. Apart from a higher prevalence of bile duct degeneration in viremic patients, infection with GBV-C/HGV did not confer any specific histological characteristics.     

HGV/GBV-C in liver tissue and in sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C

Summary  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 exibit 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.     

Clinical implications of GBV-C/HGV infection in patients with “HCV-related” chronic hepatitis

Background/Aims: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical and histological implications of a concomitant HGV infection in “HCV-related” chronic liver disease.Methods: Eighty-three HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic liver disease were tested for GBV-C/HGV coinfection by heminested PCR.Results: Twenty-two (26.5%) patients were found to be positive for GBV-C/HGV RNA. GBV-C/HGV + patients differed significantly from GBV-C/HGV − ones for younger age, higher frequency of history of drug addition, which in turn might favor coinfection with interferon-sensitive HCV genotypes (3a), and increased probability of long-term response to interferon. GBV-C/HGV infection appears to have no responsibility for specific aspects of HCV infection such as biochemical or histological cholestatic features, lymphoid follicles, symptomatic cryoglobulinemia or presence of serum autoantibodies, including LKM₁. It does not worsen the HCV-related disease (ALT levels and histological activity) and does not significantly interfere with HCV infection, as explored by the number of hepatocyles positive for HCV antigens. The amount of steatosis (mean score) was shown to be higher in GBV-C/HGV + patients. A virological follow up was performed in 17 interferon-treated GBV-C/HGV + patients On the whole, GBV-C/HGV seems to be as sensitive to IFN treatment as HCV, but recurrence after withdrawal is more frequent. In spite of this, ALT levels often remain normal after treatment withdrawal.Conclusions: The present data suggest that GBV-C/HGV infection, apart from more marked liver steatosis, does not modify the overall picture of chronic hepatitis due to HCV infection.     

A new hepatitis C virus-like flavivirus in patients with cryptogenic liver disease associated with elevated GGT and alkaline phosphatase serum levels

Summary. The intriguing co-infection of two flaviviruses (GBV-A and GBV-B) in tamarins and the recent discovery of another flavivirus (GBV-C/HGV) in humans raises the question of the relations between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GBV-C/HGV. To address this issue the sera of 285 patients with liver disease (102 patients with cryptogenic and 183 with known forms of chronic liver disease) and 19 patients without liver disease were tested for HGV-RNA. GBV-C/HGV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR using primers encompassing 5'NC and NS5 regions and hybridization with specific biotinilated and radiolabelled probes. GBV-C/HGV RNA was found in 11 of 20 (55%) acute hepatitis C patients, in 13 of 117 (11.1%) patients with chronic hepatitis C, in 11 of 27 patients with a liver transplant (40.7%), one of 19 (5.3%) patients with chronic HBV infection, 15 out of 102 (14.7%) patients with cryptogenic liver disease and two out of 19 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In cryptogenic patients, elevated serum gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT, higher than twice the normal values) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, above normal values) levels were significantly associated with GBV-C/HGV-RNA infection ( P <0.001). In conclusion GBV-C/HGV appears to be transmitted in humans by blood exposure and to be associated with liver disease in HCV co-infected patients and in a minority of patients with cryptogenic disease. The virus is only occasionally pathogenic for the liver and when liver damage is present; the association with the combined elevation of GGT and APH serum levels might represent a specific feature of the liver tropism of the agent.     

GBV-C/HGV在血清学非甲～戊型急性肝炎发生中的作用

探讨GBV-C/HGV在血清学非甲～戊型急性肝炎发生中的作用及临床意义.采用免疫组化方法对56例血清学非甲～戊型急性肝炎患者肝组织标本进行GBV-C/HGV NS5抗原的检测,结合临床资料进行分析.血清学非甲～戊型急性肝炎肝组织中GBV-C/HGV NS5抗原检出率为53.6%,主要是以和HBV/HCV重叠感染的形式存在,重叠感染组的ALT升高和HBV/HCV感染组差异无显著意义.单纯GBV-C/HGV感染占16.1%,所引起的血清ALT升高明显低于HBV/HCV感染,而与病原不明病例差异无显著意义.GBV-C/HGV可能没有致病性或者有弱致病性,不是血清学非甲～戊型急性肝炎的主要致病因子.     

A high frequency of GBV-C/HGV coinfection in hepatitis C patients in Germany

AIM:To detect infection rate of GBV-C/HGV in hepatitis C patients, to determine the methods of higher sensitivity and the primers of higher efficiency for GBV-C/HGV RNA detection and to study the dominant subtype and mutation of GBV-C/HGV.METHODS:Quantitative RT-PCR for detection pf HCV RNA concentration in serum samples, RT-nested PCR with two sets of primers for detection of GBV-C RNA, RT-PCR ELISA with two sets of primers for detection of HGV RNA, nucleotide sequence and putative amino acid sequence analysis.RESULTS:The positive rates of GBV-C RNA at the 5'-NCR and NS3 region in 211 serums amples from the patients with HCV infection were 31.8% and 22.8% respectively. The positive rates of HGV RNA at the 5'-NCR and NS5 region in the same samples were 47.9% and 31.8% respectively. The total positive rate of GBV-C/HGV RNA was as high as 55.5%. HCV copy numbers in the patients without GBV-C/HGV coinfection were statistically higher than that in the patients with GBV-C/HGV coinfection (P<0.01).Frequent mutation of nucleotide residue was present in the amplification products. Frameshift mutation was found in two samples with GBV-C NS3 region nucleotide sequences. All nucleotide sequences from amplification products showed higher homology to HGV genome than to GBV-C genome even though part of the sequences were amplified with GBV-C primers.CONCLUSION:A high frequency of GBV-C/HGV coinfection existed in the hepatitis C patients. RT-PCR ELISA was more sensitive than RT-nested PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA. The primers derived from the 5'-NCR was more efficient than those derived from the NS3 and NS5 regions. A reverse relationship was found to exist between HCV RNA concentration and GBV-C/HGV infection frequency. HGV was the dominant subtype of the virus in the local area. The major mutations of GBV-C/HGV genomes were random mutation of nucleotide residue.     

Minimal role of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus in fulminant and subfulminant hepatitis in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: The role of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) in fulminant hepatitis (FH) and subfulminant hepatitis (SFH) remains unclear. METHODS: Thirty-two FH or SFH patients, with adequate clinical information and serum specimens, were studied. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis markers and genomes of hepatitis A-E viruses, as well as GBV-C/HGV. RESULTS: Of the cases of FH/SFH studied, one (3%) was caused by anti-tuberculosis agents, 26 (81%) had hepatotropic virus infection, and five (16%) had no identifiable cause. Of the 26 patients with hepatotropic virus infection, five had acute hepatitis B infection (one with acute hepatitis D virus (HDV) co-infection), one had acute hepatitis C infection, 16 were hepatitis B surface antigen carriers with reactivation or superimposed by unidentified agent(s) (two had triple virus infections), three were hepatitis B carriers with HDV superinfection, and one had GBV-C/HGV infection in addition to exposure to halothane. GBV-C/HGV-RNA was detected in only three of 32 patients (9%) and all had a history of blood transfusion or co-existing causative factors. Of the 26 patients with hepatotropic virus infection, 18 were tested for antibodies against GBV-C/HGV envelope protein and seven were reactive, suggesting past infection. CONCLUSIONS: The role of GBV-C/HGV in causing FH and SFH is minimal in Taiwan and HBV infection remains the major aetiology. These findings also suggest the existence of as yet unrecognized agents, responsible for such catastrophic illnesses.     

HGV/GBV-C感染在肝细胞损伤中的作用探讨

目的 研究单一HGV/GBV-C感染者肝组织中该病毒核酸定位及相关抗原表达,探讨HGV/GBV-C感染在肝细胞损伤中的作用。方法 12例单一HGV/GBV-C感染者经肝穿获取的肝组织常规病理诊断,采用地高辛标记探针原位杂交法检测病毒RNA,并用免疫组织化学法检测病毒相关抗原表达。结果 病理诊断急性肝炎8例,慢性肝炎4例。HGV/GBV-C NS5抗原检出阳性率为66.67％(8/12),阳性信号主要位于肝细胞胞浆中;HGV/GBV-C RNA检出阳性率为58.33％(7/12),阳性信号位于胞浆,分布无一定规律,阳性细胞与肝细胞变性、淤胆、炎性细胞浸润、细胞坏死程度等并无相关关系。单一HGV/GBV-C感染者临床表现轻,不易被发现。结论 HGV/GBV-C RNA并不直接损害肝细胞;肝细胞中存在HGV/GBV-C相关抗原表达,其编码产物可能作为一种靶抗原,诱发免疫病理反应。     

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the inshore area of the Yangtze river, China

To investigate the association between GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in H city, in the inshore area of the Yangtze River, where high prevalence of HCC has been reported, we determined hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers, GBV-C/HGV-RNA and GBV-C/HGV E₂ antibody (anti-HG E₂) among 114 HCC patients and the same number of age- and sex-matched controls. There were no significant differences in the clinical and demographic characteristics between them, except for serum alanine aminotransferase level and history of liver diseases. There was a significant difference of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence between the HCC patients (75.4%) and the controls (20.2%; P < 0.01). Hepatitis C virus antibody was detected in 4.4% of the HCC patients, compared with 1.7% of the controls. GB virus-C/HGV-RNA and anti-HG E₂ were detected in 14.9 and 1.7% of the HCC patients, respectively, compared with 7.0 and 1.7% of the controls, respectively. Nucleotide sequences and molecular evolutionary analysis showed the strains of GBV-C/HGV-RNA were classified into genotype 2 and 3 (HG and ASIA type). An effect analysis showed an odds ratio (OR) for developing HCC from GBV-C/HGV infection among HBsAg-positive subjects was 14.9, with a 95% CI of 4.9–45.4. HBsAg infection alone was 13.83 (95% CI 7.4–25.9) and GBV-C/HGV infection alone, 3.74 (95% CI 1.1–13.1), respectively. These data indicate that HBV infection is considered to be one of the major risk factors in patients with HCC and although GBV-C/HGV infection was observed in both the HCC and the control groups, it might not play an important role in the development of HCC in this area.     

庚型肝炎患者肝组织中HGV表达的免疫组化研究

目的探讨庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ）在庚型肝炎肝组织中的表达状况与临床意义．方法应用免疫组织化学ＰＡＰ方法以鼠抗ＨＧＶＮＳ５单克隆抗体对庚型肝炎患者２０例（急性肝炎２例，慢性肝炎８例，肝硬变１０例，血清ＨＧＶＲＮＡ皆阳性）肝组织中ＨＧＶ抗原进行检测．结果庚型肝炎患者２０例中，８例（４０％）肝组织中检出ＨＧＶ抗原；不同病期检出率分别为：急性肝炎０／２（０％），慢性肝炎２／８（２５％），肝硬变６／１０（６０％），各组间差异无显著意义；阳性信号位于肝细胞胞质；阳性细胞可位于炎症坏死灶周围；抗原阳性与阴性组间肝组织炎症活动度及血清谷丙转氨酶水平无明显差别，但阳性组纤维化指数较高．结论ＨＧＶ感染及其在肝组织中表达可能与肝组织纤维化有一定关系     

Two patients with acute hepatitis B with suspected sexual transmission of hepatitis G virus

Two patients with acute hepatitis B with suggested sexual transmission of hepatitis G virus (HGV) are reported. A total of 18 patients with community acquired acute hepatitis B were analyzed in this study. Two of the 18 patients (patients 1 and 2) were positive for serum HGV RNA at the initial consultation. Both patients had had sexual contact with prostitutes several weeks before the onset of acute hepatitis, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) was suggested to be infected through the sexual contacts. These patients showed no other history of exposure to possible transmission routes for blood-borne hepatitis viruses. Patient 1 was diagnosed as with acute HGV infection because the antibody to HGV envelope-2 protein seroconverted to positive during the course of acute hepatitis. HGV RNA was negative in a serum sample collected from patient 2 before the onset of acute hepatitis, also suggesting acute HGV infection. These results indicate that in patients 1 and 2 HGV was infected along with HBV through sexual contact. The clinical manifestations of acute hepatitis in the two patients with HGV co-infection did not differ from those in the 16 patients with HBV infection alone. (Received Aug. 6, 1997; accepted Oct. 30, 1997)     

Analysis of hepatitis G virus infection markers in blood donors and patients with hepatitis

The incidence and clinical significance of hepatitis G virus (HGV) is still not fully known. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of HGV RNA and antibody to HGV E2 protein (anti-E2) in Polish blood donors and patients with hepatitis, and to compare the sequence of HGV clones with those reported by others. Two-hundred and nineteen blood donors and 83 patients with hepatitis were studied. HGV was detected in 3.2% and anti-E2 in 24.2% of blood donors and in 26.5% and 8.4% of patients with hepatitis, respectively. HGV was detected as a co-infection with HCV in four of 18 patients with chronic hepatitis, in four of 16 patients with acute hepatitis and in one of six patients with fulminant liver failure (FLF), and as a co-infection with HBV in one of six patients with FLF and in three of 10 patients with chronic hepatitis. In non-A–C hepatitis, eight of 23 patients with acute hepatitis and one of four patients with FLF were positive for HGV but all 10 patients with chronic cryptogenic hepatitis were negative. In the follow-up studies of patients with HGV alone, a correlation with viraemia and clinical symptoms was observed in two patients, but in three others HGV RNA was detected in spite of clinical resolution. Two HGV clones were sequenced, and the sequence of the HGV helicase region of the HGV isolates from donor and patient were homologous to those described by others. Hence, the frequency of HGV RNA in blood donors is similar to that obtained in other countries but the anti-E2 (marker of a past infection) frequency is higher. The incidence of HGV RNA and anti-E2 in hepatitis patients suggests that HGV plays a role in liver pathology, but careful analysis of individual cases does not confirm this.