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Allelic frequencies of HPA‐1 to 5 human platelet antigens in patients infected with hepatitis C virus
Author(s) -
VerdichioMoraes Camila Fernanda,
TorallesPereira Cecília,
Grotto Rejane Maria Tommasini,
Silva Giovanni Faria,
Pardini Maria Inês de Moura Campos
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21411
Subject(s) - virology , genotype , biology , hepatitis c virus , allele , restriction fragment length polymorphism , virus , antigen , allele frequency , platelet , polymerase chain reaction , hepacivirus , immunology , gene , genetics
Studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) may infect not only hepatocytes but may also be carried by platelets. Platelets express more than 20 polymorphic antigenic determinants on their surface, which are called human platelet antigens (HPA). To determine the allele frequency of the HPA‐1 to ‐5 in patients infected with HCV, blood samples were collected from 257 blood donors for the control group and from 191 patients infected with HCV. DNA was isolated and amplified for genes HPA‐1 to ‐4 using PCR Sequence Specific Primers (PCR‐SSP) and HPA‐5 using PCR‐Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). The allelic and genotypic frequency of HPA‐5a in patients infected with HCV was found to be significantly lower ( P < 0.05) than in the controls, and HPA‐5b from patients infected with HCV was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than in controls. The increase in HPA‐5b allelic frequency in HCV infection may indicate a possible association between HCV infection and HPAs. J. Med. Virol. 81:757–759, 2009 © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.