Intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B core and surface antigens in chronic hepatitis delta-virus infection.
To evaluate the interference of hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein expression in the liver in chronic hepatitis delta-virus (HDV) infection, the intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B core and surface antigens (HBcAg and HBsAg) was studied in 36 HBsAg carriers who were seropositive for anti-HDV and in 36 anti-HDV negative controls [18 with serum hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and 18 with anti-HBe]. Of 18 HBeAg-positive patients with anti-HDV, 12 had HDV antigen (HDAg) in the liver. HBcAg was positive in 66.7% (8/12) of the HbeAg-positive patients with HDAg in the liver, and in 94.4% (17/18) of controls (p = 0.14). The distribution of HBcAg was exclusively cytoplasmic in 75% (6/8) of HDV-infected patients, but was mixed nuclear and cytoplasmic in 70.6% (12/17) of the controls. The prevalence and quantitative expression of HBcAg in the nucleus, but not in the cytoplasm, were significantly decreased in chronic HDV infection. HBsAg was positive in 91.6% (11/12) of HBeAg-positive patients with HDV infection and in all controls. Membranous expression of HBsAg was detected less frequently in HDV-infected patients than in controls (7/12 vs. 17/18, p = 0.05), while the prevalence and quantitative expression of HBsAg in the cytoplasm showed little or no difference. HDAg was detected in all of the anti-HBe-positive patients with anti-HDV. Of these, none had HBcAg detectable in the liver, nor did controls, while HBsAg was detected exclusively in the cytoplasm in 94.4% (17/18). The prevalence and quantitative expression of HBsAg in the cytoplasm was not different for HDV-infected patients or controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chu
C M
CM
Liver Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liaw
Y F
YF
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens