Diversity of core promoter mutations in immune clearance phase of chronic HBV infection

Background/aims Transcription of HBV (hepatitis B virus) pre-core and pre-g enomic mRNAs is controlled by core promoter, Therefore, mutations in the co re promoter region might change the activity of liver diseases through an a ltered transcriptional level of the mRNA, The present study was carried out to determine the diversity of HBV core promoter sequences in chronic HBV c arriers, Methods DNA sequences in the core promoter region were determined after clo ning the PCR product Two groups of chronic HBV carriers with HBeAg, includi ng five cases of asymptomatic carriers (ASCs, 21 clones) and eight with chr onic hepatitis (CH, 50 clones) were studied. Results Mutations in the core promoter were found in three out of the ASCs (11 clones), and in all eight cases in the CH group (48 clones), While muta tions at nucleotide 1762 (A --> T) and 1764(G -->,A) were not found in ASC, mutations at the same positions were found in all the cases of CH group (4 0 clones) (P = 0.003), Diverse patterns of mutations in the core promoter w ere observed in each patient in the CH group, Conclusions Further studies are needed to determine whether the diversity o f HBV core promoter mutations has clinical significance such as the serocon version of HBeAg to anti-HBe. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:821-825 (C) 19 99 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.