The GB virus C/hepatitis G virus replicates in hepatocytes without causingliver disease in healthy blood donors

Thirty-seven persons were identified with GB virus C (GBV-C) single infecti on by polymerase chain reaction screening of 1254 healthy blood donors. Of 33 donors who returned for clinical examination, 17 underwent liver biopsy. Clinical, biochemical, and histologic evaluation did not reveal any signs of liver disease. Liver biopsies of 15 donors were analyzed by in situ hybr idization with GBV-C RNA probes and immunologic staining for the GBV-C enve lope 2 protein. GBV-C replication was identified in the cytoplasm of hepato cytes of 10 (67%) donor livers but in none of 7 liver biopsies of chronic h epatitis B virus carriers negative for serum GBV-C RNA. Thus, there was no evidence of liver disease in GBV-C-infected healthy blood donors despite vi ral replication in hepatocytes.