LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR GB-VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-REPLICATION IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

Background / Aims: The recently identified hepatitis G virus (HGV) has been found to be common in patients with various forms of chronic liv er disease, particularly chronic hepatitis C. However, replication sit es of this new viral agent have not been studied. Methods: We searched for the presence of HGV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum samples from nine chronic hepatitis C patients coinfected with hepatitis G virus, The presence of negative viral RNA strands was dete rmined by strand-specific Tgh-based assay which was optimized on synth etic template. Results: All peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were negative for the presence of the HGV RNA minus strand and only fi ve were positive for the presence of the positive strand, albeit at a low level of 10-10(2) genomic equivalents/10(6) cells. Conclusions: Th ese findings imply that hepatitis G virus does not replicate in periph eral blood mononuclear cells, at least in the population of HCV/HGV co infected patients.