In situ polymerase chain reaction detection of transfusion-transmitted virus in liver biopsy

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 123 - 127
• Main Authors: Comar, M., Ansaldi, F., Morandi, L., Dal Molin, G., Foschini, P. M., Crocè, S. L., Bonin, S., Stanta, G., Tiribelli, C., Campello, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.03.2002
• Subjects: cryptogenic hepatitis; DNA Virus Infections - blood; DNA Virus Infections - pathology; DNA Virus Infections - virology; DNA, Viral - blood; Feasibility Studies; Humans; in situ PCR; Liver - pathology; Liver - virology; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - virology; liver disease; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Retrospective Studies; Torque teno virus - genetics; Torque teno virus - isolation & purification; transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV); TT virus
• ISSN: 1352-0504; 1365-2893
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2002.00346.x

The potential role of transfusion‐transmitted virus (TTV) infection in determining liver damage is poorly understood and no information exists about TTV replication within hepatocytes. In this study, we assess TTV in situ PCR in liver tissue. Twenty‐one patients with different degrees of liver damage were studied by both serum TTV‐DNA detection and in situ TTV PCR analysis and extractive PCR in liver biopsy paraffin sections (FFPE). Extractive PCR and in situ PCR detected TTV‐DNA both in serum and liver tissue of five patients. The presence of TTV in serum matched with that found in the liver and TTV sequences were never found independently in liver or serum. Four out of five TTV‐DNA‐positive patients have not other known cause of liver damage while in one a coinfection from HCV was observed. Our data indicate that in situ PCR appears to be a reliable tool for the detection of TTV‐DNA in FFPE, and may help detecting unknown origin of liver damage.