Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2011; 17(48): 5317-5323
Published online Dec 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i48.5317
Mutations around interferon sensitivity-determining region: A pilot resistance report of hepatitis C virus 1b in a Hong Kong population
Xiao-Ming Zhou, Paul KS Chan, John S Tam
Xiao-Ming Zhou, Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
Paul KS Chan, Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
John S Tam, World Health Organization, Geneva 1200, Switzerland
Author contributions: Zhou XM performed the majority of experiments and wrote the manuscript; Chan PKS and Tam JS provided financial support, vital reagents and analytical tools, and conception of this manuscript.
Supported by The National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China, No. 2009ZX10004-104
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Ming Zhou, Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China. xmzhou@shmu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-21-37990333-7309 Fax: +86-21-57248768
Received: August 19, 2011
Revised: October 28, 2011
Accepted: November 5, 2011
Published online: December 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To explore mutations around the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) which are associated with the resistance of hepatitis C virus 1b (HCV-1b) to interferon-α treatment.

METHODS: Thirty-seven HCV-1b samples were obtained from Hong Kong patients who had completed the combined interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for more than one year with available response data. Nineteen of them were sustained virological responders, while 18 were non-responders. The amino acid sequences of the extended ISDR (eISDR) covering 64 amino acids upstream and 67 amino acids downstream from the previously reported ISDR were analyzed.

RESULTS: One amino acid variation (I2268V, P = 0.023) was significantly correlated with treatment outcome in this pilot study with a limited number of patients, while two amino acid variations (R2260H, P = 0.05 and S2278T, P = 0.05) were weakly associated with treatment outcome. The extent of amino acid variations within the ISDR or eISDR was not correlated with treatment outcome as previously reported.

CONCLUSION: Three amino acid mutations near but outside of ISDR may associate with interferon treatment resistance of HCV-1b patients in Hong Kong.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus 1b, Extended interferon sensitivity-determining region, Interferon-α, Resistance, Hong Kong, Mutation