BACKGROUND: Defective hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles, generated from singly spliced HBV RNA, have been detected in chronic carriers of HBV. The present study was designed to quantify the expression of defective HBV (dHBV) and wild-type HBV (wtHBV) genomes in the serum of patients with HBV infection and its relation to the severity of liver disease. METHODS: HBV and dHBV loads were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the serum of 89 untreated HBV-infected patients (31 coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] type 1) with liver disease of different stages. The ratio of dHBV DNA to total (wtHBV plus dHBV) HBV DNA (dHBV/HBV ratio) was used to express data independently of the level of viral replication. RESULTS: Despite a global correlation between dHBV and wtHBV load, the dHBV/HBV ratio ranged from 0.001% to 69%. The variation in dHBV/HBV ratio was independent of HIV coinfection, HBV genotype, and precore mutations. The mean dHBV/HBV ratio was higher in patients with severe liver necrosis and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that an elevated dHBV/HBV ratio is associated with liver necroinflammation and fibrosis disease, suggesting a regulation of dHBV expression according to the severity of the liver disease. The dHBV/HBV ratio may help to better define liver disease stage during HBV infection.
BACKGROUND: Defective hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles, generated from singly spliced HBV RNA, have been detected in chronic carriers of HBV. The present study was designed to quantify the expression of defective HBV (dHBV) and wild-type HBV (wtHBV) genomes in the serum of patients with HBV infection and its relation to the severity of liver disease. METHODS:HBV and dHBV loads were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the serum of 89 untreated HBV-infectedpatients (31 coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] type 1) with liver disease of different stages. The ratio of dHBV DNA to total (wtHBV plus dHBV) HBV DNA (dHBV/HBV ratio) was used to express data independently of the level of viral replication. RESULTS: Despite a global correlation between dHBV and wtHBV load, the dHBV/HBV ratio ranged from 0.001% to 69%. The variation in dHBV/HBV ratio was independent of HIV coinfection, HBV genotype, and precore mutations. The mean dHBV/HBV ratio was higher in patients with severe liver necrosis and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that an elevated dHBV/HBV ratio is associated with liver necroinflammation and fibrosis disease, suggesting a regulation of dHBV expression according to the severity of the liver disease. The dHBV/HBV ratio may help to better define liver disease stage during HBV infection.
Authors: Peter A Revill; Thomas Tu; Hans J Netter; Lilly K W Yuen; Stephen A Locarnini; Margaret Littlejohn Journal: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2020-05-28 Impact factor: 46.802
Authors: B D Betz-Stablein; A Töpfer; M Littlejohn; L Yuen; D Colledge; V Sozzi; P Angus; A Thompson; P Revill; N Beerenwinkel; N Warner; F Luciani Journal: J Virol Date: 2016-07-27 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Chun Shen Lim; Vitina Sozzi; Margaret Littlejohn; Lilly K W Yuen; Nadia Warner; Brigid Betz-Stablein; Fabio Luciani; Peter A Revill; Chris M Brown Journal: Microb Genom Date: 2021-01
Authors: Nicolas Brezillon; Marie-Noëlle Brunelle; Hélène Massinet; Eric Giang; Céline Lamant; Lucie DaSilva; Sophie Berissi; Jacques Belghiti; Laurent Hannoun; Gherard Puerstinger; Eva Wimmer; Johan Neyts; Olivier Hantz; Patrick Soussan; Serban Morosan; Dina Kremsdorf Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240