Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2014; 20(23): 7181-7196
Published online Jun 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i23.7181
Hepatitis B virus infection in Latin America: A genomic medicine approach
Sonia Roman, Alexis Jose-Abrego, Nora Alma Fierro, Griselda Escobedo-Melendez, Claudia Ojeda-Granados, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Arturo Panduro
Sonia Roman, Alexis Jose-Abrego, Claudia Ojeda-Granados, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde” and University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico
Nora Alma Fierro, Immunovirology Unit, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde” and University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico
Griselda Escobedo-Melendez, Viral Hepatitis Clinic, Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Juan I. Menchaca” and University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico
Author contributions: Roman S and Jose-Abrego A contributed equally to drafting the manuscript, collection of the data and critical revision of the article; Fierro NA, Escobedo-Melendez G and Ojeda-Granados C contributed to the collection of the data and analysis; Martinez-Lopez E analyzed the data and critically reviewed the manuscript; and Panduro A conceived the study, drafted the manuscript, analyzed the data and critically revised the manuscript; all authors revised and approved the final version.
Supported by The National Council of Science and Technology, Fondo Sectorial Salud-2010-1-139085; and the Jalisco State Council of Science and Technology, COECYTJAL-Universidad de Guadalajara 5-2010-1-1041 to Roman S, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Correspondence to: Arturo Panduro, MD, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde” and University of Guadalajara, Hospital 278, Col Centro, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico. apanduro@prodigy.net.mx
Telephone: +52-33-36147743 Fax: +52-33-36147743
Received: October 27, 2013
Revised: December 14, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: June 21, 2014
Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of severe chronic liver disease. This article provides a critical view of the importance of genomic medicine for the study of HBV infection and its clinical outcomes in Latin America. Three levels of evolutionary adaptation may correlate with the clinical outcomes of HBV infection. Infections in Latin America are predominantly of genotype H in Mexico and genotype F in Central and South America; these strains have historically circulated among the indigenous population. Both genotypes appear to be linked to a benign course of disease among the native and mestizo Mexicans and native South Americans. In contrast, genotypes F, A and D are common in acute and chronic infections among mestizos with Caucasian ancestry. Hepatocellular carcinoma is rare in Mexicans, but it has been associated with genotype F1b among Argentineans. This observation illustrates the significance of ascertaining the genetic and environmental factors involved in the development of HBV-related liver disease in Latin America, which contrast with those reported in other regions of the world.

Keywords: Genomic medicine, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B virus genotypes, Latin America, Mexico, Central America, South America

Core tip: We explore the influence of genetic and environmental factors that may participate in the clinical outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among the Latin American population. Such features may be of interest to clinicians and scientists in the field of hepatology because this population differs importantly from others worldwide. A novel genomic medicine approach is required to implement new strategies for the prevention, management and treatment of HBV infection.