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Mutations in two PKR‐binding domains in chronic hepatitis C of genotype 3a and correlation with viral loads and interferon responsiveness
Author(s) -
Yokozaki Shouichi,
Katano Yoshiaki,
Hayashi Kazuhiko,
Ishigami Masatoshi,
Itoh Akihiro,
Hirooka Yoshiki,
Nakano Isao,
Goto Hidemi
Publication year - 2011
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.21959
Subject(s) - ns5a , protein kinase r , virology , biology , interferon , viral replication , hepatitis c virus , viral load , genotype , virus , hepacivirus , genetics , kinase , protein kinase a , gene , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase
Interferon (IFN) induces the double‐stranded RNA‐dependent protein kinase (PKR) to inhibit viral replication. Two motifs of the PKR‐binding domain exist in the E2 and the NS5A regions of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These regions are called the PKR‐eukaryotic transcription factor (elF2‐alpha) phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD), and the IFN sensitivity‐determining region (ISDR). Both regions are inhibited by PKR. Thus, several studies have reported the relationship between these regions and IFN responsiveness and the HCV viral load. However, the data obtained from these studies remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic heterogeneity of the PePHD and the ISDR in patients with genotype 3a and how this impacts HCV replication and the response to IFN therapy. Twenty‐one male patients infected with HCV genotype 3a were studied. The PePHD was well conserved, and mutations were found in only one amino acid position in two patients. Patients with three or more mutations in the ISDR had lower viral loads than those with fewer than two mutations (192.2 ± 176.7 vs. 1279.4 ± 997.6 KIU/ml, P = 0.0277). Ten (71.4%) of 14 patients achieved a sustained virological response to IFN therapy. No specific amino acid substitutions in the PePHD and the ISDR were associated with IFN responsiveness; however, the number of mutations in the ISDR was significantly associated with the HCV viral load. The findings from this study suggest that the ISDR plays an important role in regulating viral replication in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a. J. Med. Virol. 83:1727–1732, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.