Accuracy of Biochemical Markers and Platelet Count for Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis Staging in Patients with Liver Fibrosis, Loghman Hakim and Taleghani Hospitals, Tehran, Iran (2000-2004)

Background and Aims: To initially explore the underlying pathogenesis of the relationship between genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its clinical manifestations.  

Methods: The S and C genes of HBV from 60 serum samples, infected by HBV of genotypes B or C were amplified by PCR. The products were recombined with vector pEGFP-C1, which is an internal reference for transfection, to construct the eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmids, followed by cloning and subcloning. Then they were transfected into hepatocarcinoma cell HepG2. The increment rates and apoptosis rates of these transfected cells were determinated by MTT and flow cytometer, respectively. 

Results: The 120 eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmids were all constructed successfully. As an internal reference for transfection, EGFP confirmed that large S protein and C protein of HBV had been expressed in all HepG2 cells. It was found by flow cytometer that the apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells transfected by pEGFP-C1/HBs or pEGFP-C1/HBc from HBV-genotype C samples were all significantly higher than that from HBV-genotype B samples (P=0.009 & P=0.001, respectively). 

Conclusions: HBV of genotype C can induce more serious cell apoptosis than HBV of genotype B. Difference in apoptosis may be an important reason that HBV of genotype C can induce more severe liver injury than HBV of genotype B.