Serodiagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection by ELISA for antibodies against the putative core protein (p20c) expressed in Escherichia coli.
The putative core gene of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was incorporated into a plasmid vector (pCC5-J4), and expressed in Escherichia coli. The product of 180 amino acids (p20c) was purified by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies against the putative core protein of HCV (anti-p20c). Anti-p20c was detected in 13 (1.5%) of 873 apparently healthy blood donors. It was detected in 205 (86.5%) of 237 patients with acute or chronic non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatic disease, significantly more frequently (p less than 0.01) than antibodies against the C100-3 protein encoded by nonstructural regions of HCV (anti-C100-3) that was found in 178 (75.1%). Anti-p20c developed in the circulation of a patient with acute NANB hepatitis much earlier than anti-C100-3. HCV RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from blood donors positive for anti-p20c in high titers, one of which was negative for anti-C100-3. These results indicated that anti-p20c would be useful in complementing anti-C100-3 for the diagnosis of NANB hepatitis and further decreasing the incidence of posttransfusion NANB hepatitis.
Japanese Red Cross Blood Center, Saitama-Ken.
A
A
Yoshikawa
K
K
Takahashi
S
S
Kishimoto
F
F
Tsuda
Y
Y
Akahane
S
S
Naito
T
T
Tanaka
H
H
Yoshizawa
M
M
Yamasaki
H
H
Okamoto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D012313:RNA