DETECTION OF NEGATIVE STRAND RNA OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN INFECTED LIVER AND SERUM

The negative strand RNA of hepatitis C virus, supposed to be a replica tive intermediate of the virus appears to indicate viral replication. In this study, we detected the negative strand RNA by using reverse tr anscription-polymerase chain reaction with RNase A digestion to degrad e the remaining positive strand genomic sequence of the virus after co mplementary DNA (eDNA) synthesis. liz vitro transcribed positive-stran ded mutant RNA Tvas not detected by this method. Sample sera and liver tissues of 16 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (live r fibrosis, 1; chronic hepatitis, 13; liver cirrhosis, 2) were analyse d for negative strand RNA of hepatitis C virus. The negative strand RN A sequence was detected in 15 (93 %) of 16 liver tissues and in 11 (78 %) of 14 sera. The study demonstrated that negative strand RNA of hep atitis C virus in serum and liver tissue could be specifically detecte d.