Immunochemical identification and partial characterization of a native hepatitis C viral non-structural 4 antigen in sera of HCV infected patients

The identification of native HCV antigens may prove very useful in the diagnosis and early treatment of HCV infection. Here, we aimed to identify and partially characterize a native HCV-NS4 antigen. The western blot, ELISA and immunohistochemical staining were used to identify the native antigen in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinica chimica acta 2008-02, Vol.388 (1), p.115-122
Main Authors: Attallah, Abdelfattah M., Ismail, Hisham, Shiha, Gamal E., Abou-Dobara, Mohamed I., El-Sherbiny, Rania E., El-Dosoky, Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
27-kDa
Adolescent
Adult
Blotting, Western - methods
Child
Diagnosis
ELISA
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Hepatitis C - blood
Hepatitis C - immunology
Hepatitis C Antigens - blood
Hepatitis C Antigens - immunology
Hepatitis C Virus
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Liver
Liver - immunology
Liver - metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
NS4 antigen
Serum
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - blood
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - immunology
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Summary:The identification of native HCV antigens may prove very useful in the diagnosis and early treatment of HCV infection. Here, we aimed to identify and partially characterize a native HCV-NS4 antigen. The western blot, ELISA and immunohistochemical staining were used to identify the native antigen in sera and liver biopsies of HCV serotype 4 infected patients. The native NS4 antigen was identified in serum at 27-kDa molecular weight, in addition to a lower ∼ 21-kDa antigen. The purified HCV antigen showed a polypeptide band at 27-kDa when analyzed by silver stained SDS-PAGE and a single peak at 7.6 min by capillary zone electrophoresis. The immunostaining pattern of hepatocytes was cytoplasmic with mainly coarse granular and diffuse pattern based on specific rabbit antisera to the native HCV antigen. A highly significant correlation ( r = 0.797, p < 0.0001) was shown between serum concentrations of the HCV-NS4 antigen and HCV-RNA. Also, antigen detection rates were increased ( p < 0.05) with the progression of liver disease. A native HCV-NS4 antigen was identified and partially characterized as 27-kDa protein and the NS4 antigenemia based ELISA test can serve as a useful addition to HCV diagnostic methods, especially under field condition.
ISSN:0009-8981
1873-3492
DOI:10.1016/j.cca.2007.10.019