Identification of a novel pre-S2 mutation in a subgroup of chronic carriers with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether spontaneous sero-clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients with chronic hepatitis B could be attributed to the presence of pre-S/S gene mutations. Methods: Of 34 hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers who experienced spontaneous seroclearance of HBsAg, 30 were still seropositive for HBV DNA. The serum samples of these carriers were subjected to sequence analysis. Results: A novel pre-S2 mutation, G149R, was found in nine (group I) but not in 17 (group II) patients carrying HBV DNA with intact pre-S/S reading frames. In the remaining four patients (group III), only aberrant pre-S/S transcripts were found in their sera. Distinct patterns of amino acid substitutions specific to group I and II patients were identified. Superinfection by hepatitis C or D virus occurred predominantly in group II patients (P = 0.019). Superinfection by HBV of a different genotype occurred predominantly in patients without hepatitis C or D virus superinfection (P = 0.013). Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that secretion of HBsAg was not defective in the pre-S2 G149R mutant. Conclusions: In a particular subgroup (group I) of patients, seroclearance of HBsAg was not caused by superinfection of other hepatitis viruses, nor was it caused by failure of HBsAg secretion or detection. Instead, a yet unrecognized mechanism associated with emergence of a novel pre-S2 mutation is responsible. (C) 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.