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Single-strand conformation polymorphism for analysis of genomic variability of hepatitis C virus nonstructure 5A region.

OBJECTIVE
To establish a convenient method to detect the genomic population with hepatitis C virus (HCV) at nonstructure 5A (NS5A) region and to determine the correlation between the genomic population complexity at NS5A region and disease stage.


METHODS
The sera from 52 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infections were analysed using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). In the SSCP, an asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on the 455 bp products of the first round PCR at the NS5A region and the number of band of single strand deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which reacted with complemental DNA probe specific for the NS5A region after gel electrophoresis was analyzed.


RESULTS
In 90% patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, the bands of single strand DNA was limited to one, and in those with chronic active hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, two or more bands of DNA were frequently detected. In about half of patients with hepatocellular-carcinoma, three or more bands were found. The number of bands increased with the progression of liver disease. The multivariate analysis showed that the progression of liver disease was the independent factor of viral diversity (P < 0.025) and was not related to the age, sex, the route of infection and the titer of hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA).


CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the genomic variability of HCV at NS5A region increases with the progression of liver disease, and this may be closely related to the clinical features of type C liver disease.