Relationship between the intrahepatic expression of 'e' and 'c' epitopes of the nucleocapsid protein of hepatitis B virus and viraemia

The relationship between hepatitis B viraemia and intrahepatic HBV nucleocapsid proteins (HBcAg and HBeAg) was studied in 18 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Monoclonal antibodies (MoABs) were obtained in BALB/c mice primed with recombinant HBV nucleocapsid proteins. Four MoABs reacting with recom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 1989-01, Vol.75 (1), p.64-69
Main Authors: Ballaré, M, Lavarini, C, Brunetto, M R, Petruzzelli, E, Dovis, M, Molino, G, Bonino, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology
Antibody Specificity
Cell Nucleus - immunology
DNA, Viral - analysis
Epitopes - analysis
Hepatitis B - immunology
Hepatitis B Antibodies - analysis
Hepatitis B Core Antigens - analysis
Hepatitis B e Antigens - analysis
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - analysis
Humans
Liver - immunology
Viremia - immunology
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Summary:The relationship between hepatitis B viraemia and intrahepatic HBV nucleocapsid proteins (HBcAg and HBeAg) was studied in 18 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Monoclonal antibodies (MoABs) were obtained in BALB/c mice primed with recombinant HBV nucleocapsid proteins. Four MoABs reacting with recombinant proteins gave positive results in competitive assays. Two reacted as anti-HBc and two as anti-HBe. One of them showed a strong affinity for the cytoplasmic, membrane-bound antigen (P23e) of infected hepatocytes while the latter showed a higher specificity for serum HBeAg than for the intrahepatic antigen. Anti-HBc MoABs had a staining capacity for liver cell nuclei comparable with that of polyclonal antibodies. Overall the anti-HBc MoABs stained the liver cell nuclei in 86% of cases, while anti-HBe MoABs stained in 58% of cases. The hepatocyte cytoplasm was stained by anti-HBc MoABs and anti-HBe MoABs in 64% and 72% of cases respectively. Not one of 12 control liver biopsies was stained. Viraemia (HBV-DNA) was measured by dot blot hybridization and was correlated with the number of hepatocytes containing the nucleocapsid antigen. The highest levels of HBV-DNA (greater than 10(8) genomes/ml) were detected in patients with prevalent nuclear staining while the lowest ones were observed in those with prevalent cytoplasmic expression of this antigen. The application of anti-HBV-nucleocapsid MoABs in diagnostics requires careful scrutiny since some are specific for the circulating antigen while others show a higher affinity for the intrahepatic antigen.
ISSN:0009-9104
1365-2249