Author/Authors :
Hosseinzadeh Adli ، Ahmad Department of Microbiology - Golestan University of Medical Sciences , Karami ، Chiman Department of Microbiology - Golestan University of Medical Sciences , Zhand ، Sareh Department of Biotechology - Golestan University of Medical Sciences , Talei ، Reza Department of Microbiology - Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , Moradi ، Abdolvahab Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center - Golestan University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background and objectives: Globally, about one third of the population has been infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and more than 400 million people have become chronically infected. Nearly, 2025% of all carriers develop serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to the World Health Organization, HBV infection causes more than one million deaths every year. Coinfection with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV is common, since both viruses have the same routes of transmission. Approximately 10 15% of HIVinfected individuals develop chronic hepatitis B. The risk of liver diseasesrelated deaths is also higher in the coinfected patients. According to previous studies, mutation of the precore (PC) and basalcore promoter (BCP) regions may play an important role in development of HBVrelated HCC and severe liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate mutations in the BCP, PC and core regions of HBV in HIVpositive patients. Methods: DNA was extracted using commercial kits to determine the BCP, PC/core mutations in 124 HIV/HBV coinfected patients (32.4% female and 67.6% male). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using specific primers. The positive PCR products were subjected to automated sequencing. Then, nucleotide sequences were aligned with the standard hepatitis B sequence [Gene bank, accession number: AB033559] for mutation detection and analysis. Results: In this study, three patients (8.1%) were HBeAgpositive and all of them were HBsAgpositive. The mean of CD4 cell count was 120 cells/mL. The mean age of the patients was 36.16 years. The important pathological mutations in HBV patients including 1752A (73%), 1773C (70.3%), 1753C (10.8%), 1896A (8.1%) and 1762T/1764A (2.7%) were detected in this study. Conclusion: Identification of mutations in coinfected patients is of greater importance compared to monoinfected patients, because it can be useful for prediction of HCCrelated mutations. Coinfection with HIV has important effects on the natural history of HBV infection, and creates different mutational patterns compared to monoinfected patients.
