A long standing mystery is why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) discriminates sexually striking men more than women. Scientists in China say they have the answer to find an unusual liver protein found only in men only and may help explain this act of discrimination.
Chronic hepatitis B progresses and cause liver damage in men who also are the main victims of the most serious complications of the virus (cirrhosis and cancer). The men infected with HBV are also six times more likely than women develop a chronic form of the disease.
About 400 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B, including a form that is highly contagious and can be transmitted through blood, saliva and sexual contact.
In experiments with laboratory mice, scientists found few abnormal forms of apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI), a protein involved in the fight against inflammation in the liver of mice infected males, but not in infected females. Then identified abnormal forms of this protein Apo AI in the blood of men infected with HBV, but not in women. In addition to explaining gender differences, the proteins can provide important indicators for monitoring the progression of hepatitis B.
