Polymorphisms within Fas gene are not associated with occult hepatitis B virus infection

*Corresponding Author: Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei MD, Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center (GLDRC), Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Razi Hospital, Sardar-e-Jangle Avenue, P.O.Box: 41448-95655 Rasht, Iran. Tel: +98 131 5535116 Fax: +98 131 5534951 Email: [email protected]

Hepatitis Monthly:Vol. 7, issue 4; 23-26

Published online:Jan 31, 2011

Article type:Research Article

Received:Mar 22, 2010

Accepted:Aug 11, 2010

How to Cite:Fallah M, Jafarshad R, Joukar F, Salari A, Tavafzadeh R, et al. Polymorphisms within Fas gene are not associated with occult hepatitis B virus infection. Hepat Mon. 2007;7(4):. doi:

Abstract

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a form of hepatitis in which there is an absence of detectable HBsAg, despite the presence of HBV-DNA in the peripheral blood of patients. It seems that non-effective or attenuated immune system responses against HBV lead to the development of OBI. Previous studies showed that the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system is an important death signaling pathway that is used by cytotoxic T lymphocytes to eradicate HBV from the liver.
Objectives: To investigate polymorphisms in the -670 region of the Fas gene in those with OBI.
Patients and Methods: The plasma samples from 3700 blood donors were tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs by ELISA. The HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ samples were selected and screened for HBV-DNA by PCR. Those with HBV-DNA were diagnosed as OBI and PCR-RFLP technique was performed to examine polymorphisms within their Fas gene.
Results: 352 (9.5%) of 3700 blood samples were HBsAg-/anti-HBc+. HBV-DNA was detected in 57 (16.1%) of 352 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ samples. Therefore, 57 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+/HBV-DNA+ patients were diagnosed as OBI. Patient and control groups had no significant differences in terms of the studied polymorphisms.
Conclusions: The functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of Fas gene are not associated with OBI. Therefore, it may be concluded that polymorphisms at the -670 position of the Fas gene do not have any critical effects on the immune response against HBV in OBI.

Implication for Health policy/practice/research/medical education:
The role of gene polymorphisms in patients with Hepatitis B virus infection is discussed in this study. Reading this article is suggested to all virolo¬gists, genetic specialists in the field of hepatology.

Please cite this paper as:
Arababadi MK, Mohammadzadeh A, Pourfathollah AA, Kennedy D. Polymorphisms within Fas gene are not associated with occult HBV infection. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(1):23-26.

Keywords

Hepatitis B infection

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© 2007, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.

Official Journal of Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases

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Polymorphisms within Fas gene are not associated with occult hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract

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