Genomic and antigenomic chains of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus in serum, liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

OBJECTIVE

To determine HCV and HGV replication sites in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to study interaction between these two viruses.

PATIENTS

HGV RNA was studied in 272 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Of these, 35 were positive (group I). Twenty-three patients with chronic hepatitis C not co-infected with HGV were selected (group II).

RESULTS

Genomic and antigenomic chains of HCV were studied in both groups and those of HGV in group I in serum samples, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver tissue. In group I genomic chains of HCV and HGV were observed in 86 and 100%, respectively (ns), in serum samples (n = 35), and antigenomic chains in 17 and 23%, respectively (ns). In mononuclear cell samples (n = 15) 100% presented the genomic chain of HCV and 60% presented that of HGV (p < 0.05). Antigenomic chains were detected in 13 and 33%, respectively (ns). In liver tissue (n = 25) genomic chains were observed in 100 and 12%, respectively (p < 0.001); the antigenomic chain of HCV was detected in 76% while that of HGV was not present (p < 0.001). In group II genomic chains of HCV were found to be present in a very high percentage in all samples, while antigenomic chains appeared in 13% of serum and mononuclear cell samples and 89% of liver samples.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV and HGV have different sites of replication: whereas HCV replicates mainly in the liver, HGV is not hepatotropic. Mononuclear cells could represent a replication site for HGV but they are less important for HCV. Lastly, HGV does not modify the viral replication of HCV.