Serum measures of iron status and HFE gene mutations in patients with hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract

Aim: We tested associations between HFE mutations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We also explored measures of total body iron status and their association with chronic HBV infection. Methods: Serum measures of iron status and HFE mutations (C282Y, H63D, and S65C) were assessed in 344 Iranian patients with chronic HBV infection (214 asymptomatic carriers, 130 patients with chronic progressive liver disease [CPLD]) and 302 controls. Results: Frequencies of HFE mutations did not differ between patients with chronic HBV infection and controls (C282Y: P=0.9, H63D: P= 0.8, S65C: P=0.9). By logistic regression, advanced hepatic fibrosis was associated with HFE H63D mutation (OR=13.1, P=0.006; 95% CI=2.0–84.1). Higher levels of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were observed in patients with CPLD than in healthy controls (P=0.0001 and 0.01, respectively, adjusted for age and sex). None of the serum iron measures was related to liver fibrosis stage or necroinflammatory grade. Conclusion: Serum iron measures are associated with chronic progressive hepatitis B. Carriage of HFE mutations is not associated with the presence of chronic HBV infection or values of serum iron measures in this population, although HFE H63D is associated with more advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Influence of mutation of the HFE gene on the progression of chronic viral hepatitis B and C in Moroccan patients

“…Overall, these results were compatible to studies by Thorburn et al [2002] and Sendi et al [2005]. However, several reports showed previously a significant difference in serum ferritin between patients with chronic Hepatitis B and C and healthy controls [Lebray et al, 2004;Ghaziani et al, 2007]. Patients with elevated serum iron markers were more commonly male, drank more alcohol, and had more active chronic hepatitis with increased liver fibrosis.…”

“…In addition, the homozygous C282Y status was absent from individuals with chronic hepatitis as well as controls. Overall, these findings are in agreement with well documented studies from the Middle-East and eastern-Asia [Mah et al, 2005;Ghaziani et al, 2007] but differ from the report of Sendi et al [2005] showing that in Iranians patients, the frequency of major mutation C282Y in HFE gene with HBV infection is higher than control subjects (4% vs. 0%, P ¼ 0.02). However, it must be stressed that the latter study was performed on a limited number of patients (n ¼ 75).…”

“…In Morocco, available data were limited regarding HFE gene mutations [Ezzikouri et al, 2008]. In addition, only few studies have focused on the relationship between HFE mutations and the persistence of HBV infection [Mah et al, 2005;Sendi et al, 2005;Ghaziani et al, 2007]. The aim of the current study was to determine whether there is any difference between the frequencies of HFE mutations in patients with HBsAg and patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), compared with an appropriate control group.…”

Entry of Hepatitis B Virus into Immortalized Human Primary Hepatocytes by Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis

“…For example, high levels of serum ferritin and transferrin have been reported in these patients (13,33), although the causes of the increased serum ferritin and transferrin saturation remain unclear. Our observation that LHBsAg inhibited transferrin uptake by human hepatocytes provides a clue to the cause of the disordered metabolism of iron ions.…”

The High Frequency of the C282Y-Mutant HFE Gene in Northeast Iran; New Finding or Genotyping Error?

“…They found a high prevalence (> 15%) of C282Y-mutant genotypes (CY and YY) in both groups of Iranian patients with hepatitis C as well as healthy individuals. In previous studies from Iran, the mutant genotypes of this polymorphism was rarely observed in healthy Iranian individuals (4,5) and even in Iranian patients with liver diseases and HH (5-7). While the data presented by Gerayli et al (1) regarding the high prevalence of C282Y-mutant genotypes in northeast Iran can be of great interest it should however be noted that this high prevalence of mutant-C282Y genotypes can be a result of genotyping error.…”