The IgM antibody responses to the core antigen of hepatitis B virus.
Little is known about the immunoglobulin class of antibodies to HBcAg. In the present study sera containing anti-HBc were fractionated by surcose density-gradient centrifugation, and all serum fractions were tested against HBcAg by immunoelectro-osmophoresis. In addition selected fractions were examined by complement fixation test, immune adherence hemagglutination and immune electron microscopy. Anti-HBc activity in IgG serum fractions was demonstrated by all four techniques used, but HBcAg-specific IgM was detected only by immunoelectro-osmophoresis and by immune electron microscopy. In acute hepatitis B, HBcAg-specific IgM was detected for up to eight weeks after the onset of jaundice. It was also found transiently in two patients who developed chronic hepatitis B without an icteric episode and in one out of thirteen patients with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease, but in none of eight healthy HBsAg carriers. The results suggested that HBcAg-specific IgM is formed transiently in response to primary HBV infection but is generally undetectable in established HBsAg carriers.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M