SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTIBODY TO THE HOST CELLULAR GENE DERIVED EPITOPE GOR IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

The humoral response to the host cellular gene-derived epitope GOR (anti-GOR) was reported to be associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-GOR, sera from 31 patients (M/F, 19/12, age 30-72) with chronic HCV infection (anti-HCV + in 30, HCV-RNA + by PCR in 31) were tested for anti-GOR by enzyme immunoassay. Results were correlated with clinical, biochemical and histological features, and the subsequent response to interferon-alpha therapy (a complete response was defined as normalization of serum ALT at the completion of therapy; a sustained response was defined as having normal serum liver biochemistry during the entire follow-up period). Anti-GOR was detected in 21 patients [67.7%, median optical density (OD) reading 2.634, range 0.865-3.000, cut-off value 0.300]. There was no correlation between the presence or the OD reading of anti-GOR and the clinical features (sex, age, mode of acquisition), biochemical tests (serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels), autoimmune markers [serum globulin levels, anti-nuclear antibody (+ at <1:80 in 6/31 patients)], and their subsequent response to interferon-alpha therapy (complete response in anti-GOR + patients: 13/21, anti-GOR-: 5/10, p = NS; sustained response in anti-GOR + patients: 5/21, anti-GOR-: 2/10, p = NS). There was also no correlation between anti-GOR and the histological features including Knodell score and its components including periportal inflammation, portal inflammation and fibrosis, the presence of lymphoid aggregates, macrovesicular and microvesicular fat, multinucleated hepatocytes, dysplasia, sinusoidal activity or bile duct lesions. However, anti-GOR seropositive patients had less lobular inflammation (median Knodell lobular score 1 +, range 0-3 +, n = 21) compared to anti-GOR seronegative patients (median 3 +, range 0-4 +, n = 10, p = 0.0338). These data confirm that anti-GOR is commonly present in patients with chronic HCV infection. However, the presence of anti-GOR has no clinical or prognostic significance.