Detection of transcriptionally active hepatitis B virus DNA in peripheral mononuclear blood cells after infection during immunosuppressive chemotherapy using the polymerase chain reaction.
Using PCR we have studied mononuclear peripheral blood leucocytes (PMBLs) from HBV-infected immunosuppressed patients in order to detect the presence of HBV genomes. Our results indicate that non-transient PMBL infection is common in immunotolerant carriers. In addition, the presence of pregenomic mRNA sequences suggests that virus replication may take place in PMBLs, possibly implicating the latter as a source of virus after replication has ceased in the liver.
Repp
R
R
Children's Hospital, University of Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Mance
A
A
Keller
C
C
Rhiel
S
S
Gerlich
W H
WH
Lampert
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004279:DNA, Viral