Abstract
BackgroundNo information is available on the possible influence of the genetic heterogeneity of major hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell receptors on selection of virus variants.FindingsAnti-D globulin preparations contaminated with the HCV strain AD78 caused hepatitis C infection in more than 3000 women in East Germany in 1978. Analysis of the core to NS2 gene sequences of this strain in several globulin batches revealed the presence of three closely related but distinct virus variants of the same strain. Apparently even distribution of these three virus variants was observed in 91 patients infected with the AD78 strain. None of these patients was infected with more than one virus variant, suggesting a selection mechanism of a particular virus variant in each patient. To verify the hypothesis that heterogeneity of HCV cell receptors might influence the virus variant selection, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), occludin (OCLN), and scavenger receptor B1 (SCARB1) genes in AD patients were analyzed. No evident correlation between receptor polymorphisms and presence of a particular virus variant was noted.ConclusionSNPs of HCV cell entry receptors have no influence on virus selection in patients infected with an inoculum containing different virus variants.
Highlights
No information is available on the possible influence of the genetic heterogeneity of major hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell receptors on selection of virus variants
single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HCV cell entry receptors have no influence on virus selection in patients infected with an inoculum containing different virus variants
Accumulating data show that mixed infection with two or several HCV genotypes or subtypes usually is a very low event even among multiple exposed individuals such as intravenous drug users [1]
Summary
No information is available on the possible influence of the genetic heterogeneity of major hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell receptors on selection of virus variants. Conclusion: SNPs of HCV cell entry receptors have no influence on virus selection in patients infected with an inoculum containing different virus variants. In favour of the hypothesis that the mechanism(s) of HCV coinfection/superinfection restriction might be operative at the stage of virus entry are data obtained by our group that has initiated a study of a single-source outbreak of HCV infection in about 3000 women in East Germany in 1978 caused by contaminated anti-D globulin [5].
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