We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Polymorphisms within Fas gene are not associated with occult hepatitis B virus infection.
- Authors
Arababadi, Mohammad Kazemi; Mohammadzadeh, Adel; Pourfathollah, Ali Akbar; Kennedy, Derek
- Abstract
Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a form of hepatitis in which there is an absence of detectable HBsAg, despite the presence of HBV-DNA in the peripheral blood of patients. It seems that non-effective or attenuated immune system responses against HBV lead to the development of OBI. Previous studies showed that the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system is an important death signaling pathway that is used by cytotoxic T lymphocytes to eradicate HBV from the liver. Objectives: To investigate polymorphisms in the -670 region of the Fas gene in those with OBI. Patients and Methods: The plasma samples from 3700 blood donors were tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs by ELISA. The HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ samples were selected and screened for HBV-DNA by PCR. Those with HBV-DNA were diagnosed as OBI and PCR-RFLP technique was performed to examine polymorphisms within their Fas gene. Results: 352 (9.5%) of 3700 blood samples were HBsAg-/anti-HBc+. HBV-DNA was detected in 57 (16.1%) of 352 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ samples. Therefore, 57 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+/HBV-DNA+ patients were diagnosed as OBI. Patient and control groups had no significant differences in terms of the studied polymorphisms. Conclusions: The functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of Fas gene are not associated with OBI. Therefore, it may be concluded that polymorphisms at the -670 position of the Fas gene do not have any critical effects on the immune response against HBV in OBI.
- Subjects
IRAN; HYPOTHESIS; ANALYSIS of variance; ANTIGENS; BIOMARKERS; BLOOD testing; BLOOD donors; CHI-squared test; COMPARATIVE studies; STATISTICAL correlation; DNA; ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay; GENES; GENETIC polymorphisms; HEPATITIS B; POLYMERASE chain reaction; RESEARCH funding; CONTROL groups
- Publication
Hepatitis Monthly, 2011, Vol 11, Issue 1, p23
- ISSN
1735-143X
- Publication type
Article