Complement fixing hepatitis B core antigen immune complexes in the liver of patients with HBs antigen positive chronic disease.
One hundred and fifty-two biopsies from serologically HBsAg positive and negative patients with liver disease were studied in immunofluorescence: for the presence of the surface (HBs) and the core (HBc) antigenic determinants foeterminants of the hepatitis B virus, of immunoglobulins and complement (C) deposits, and for the capacity to fix human C. Circumstantial evidence is presented suggesting that HBc immune-complexes are a relevant feature in the establishment and progression of chronic HBSAg liver disease. C fixation by liver cells was shown in all HBC positive patients with chronic hepatitis; an active form was present in every case, except two with a persistent hepatitis, an inverse ratio of HBc to C binding fluorescence being noted between active chronic hepatitis and cirrhotic patients. HBc without C fixation was observed in only three patients in the incubation phase of infectious hepatitis. IgG deposits were often found in HBc containing, C fixing nuclei. No C binding or IgG deposits were observed in acute self-limited type B hepatitis, in serologically positive patients with normal liver or minimal histological lesions, with and without HBs cytoplasmic fluorescence in their biopsy, or in serologically negative individuals.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002648:Child; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D005260:Female; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens