Parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis: virus-specific antibody response patterns in hepatitis C virus-infected chimpanzees.
An established chimpanzee model of parenterally-transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis was used to define virus-specific immune response patterns in acutely and persistently infected animals. Serial bleedings were obtained from 23 chimpanzees that had been experimentally infected with an isolate of hepatitis C virus, originally recovered from contaminated lots of factor VIII (antihemophilic) materials. Sera were assayed for the presence of antihepatitis C virus by a newly developed radioimmunoassay procedure that incorporated recombinant DNA-expressed viral antigen as a reagent. Twenty-one of 23 hepatitis C virus infected animals were shown to acquire antihepatitis C virus, most within 2-8 weeks after the major peak of alanine aminotransferase activity. All chimpanzees with biochemical, electron microscopic, and histological evidence of chronic disease clearly acquired antibody; 14 of 16 animals observed through the acute phase of disease were also shown to acquire antibody. A booster effect or anamnestic response was noted in two chimpanzees (one of which was negative for antihepatitis C virus following the acute phase of disease) after challenge with hepatitis C virus. Antihepatitis C virus was not neutralizing, because some animals with high levels of antibody were also shown to have high titers of circulating hepatitis C virus. The development and maintenance of anti-hepatitis C virus appears to reflect concomitant virus replication and high potential for infectivity.
Bradley
D W
DW
Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
Krawczynski
K
K
Ebert
J W
JW
McCaustland
K A
KA
Choo
Q L
QL
Houghton
M A
MA
Kuo
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies