Mutations in the X gene of the Hepatitis B virus and their influence on outcome CHB infection in three-generations in the family

authors:

avatar Malihe Naderi ORCID 1 , 2 , avatar Seyed Masoud Hosseini ORCID 2 , avatar Vahideh Hamidi ORCID 3 , avatar Nasser Behnampour ORCID 4 , avatar Iraj Shahramian ORCID 5 , avatar Abdolvahab Moradi ORCID 3 , *

Hiroshima Institute of Life Sciences, 7-21, Nishi Asahi-Machi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima, 734-0002 Japan
Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department, Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology: Vol.17, issue 7; e148384
published online: August 28, 2024
article type: Research Article
revised: July 23, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm-148384

how to cite: Naderi M, Hosseini S M, Hamidi V, Behnampour N, Shahramian I, et al. Mutations in the X gene of the Hepatitis B virus and their influence on outcome CHB infection in three-generations in the family. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2024;17(7):e148384. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm-148384.

Abstract

Background: The occurrence of specific mutations within the HBV genome is associated with the progression of chronic hepatitis B infection towards more severe outcomes. 
Objective: This study was planned to investigate mutational patterns in the X-gene and their influence on outcome CHB infection in three-generations in the family. 
Methods: Ninety CHB patients based on the inclusion criteria were recruited from cases referred to the Center of Hepatology at GOUMS (Golestan University of Medical Sciences) between September 2020-January 2021. The HBx gene was amplified with semi-nested PCR from serum samples and then subjected to sequencing.
Results: Comparison of the sequences from CHB patients indicated that children and mothers in the two-generational group exhibited the highest similarity (79.3%) in the X-gene, with the least mutation rate (20.7%). The N-terminal region of the X-gene displayed the highest frequency percentage of mutations in the three-generation group, including C1491G (25%), G1613T (23.9%), C1500T (43.4%), and G1658T (33.4%). The rate of mutations was notably higher in HBeAg negative patients across the three groups in compared with CHB patients HBeAg positive, with a statistically significant difference observed (P-value=0.03). A1762T/G1764A mutations were observed in 15.6% of patients, and their presence demonstrated a significant difference (P-value=0.03). Additionally, in the three-generation group, a silent mutation, A1727G (10%), and a missense mutation, A1727T (30%), were detected. 
Conclusions: The specific models of mutations in HBx may be valuable in predicting the clinical outcomes of CHB patients and could serve as warning indicators for increased susceptibility to HCC.