title: Anti-pre-S responses and viral clearance in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Serial sera were collected prospectively during the clinical course of 13 HBsAg carriers with chronic liver disease and analyzed for ALT levels, pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens and corresponding antibodies and other serological hepatitis B virus markers. In five patients, anti-pre-S1 and anti-pre-S2 antibodies became detectable in multiple serum samples, whereas in eight patients anti-pre-S was never detected or only appeared transiently during the follow-up. The first pattern was associated with normalization of ALT levels and undetectable pre-S antigens and viral DNA by the polymerase chain reaction assay at final follow-up. HBsAg clearance occurred in two of the five patients. The second pattern was one of persistence of HBsAg and pre-S antigens, associated with the presence of serum HBV DNA detectable by spot hybridization or polymerase chain reaction regardless of clinical outcome. These findings demonstrate the occurrence of anti-pre-S antibodies in chronic hepatitis B virus-induced liver disease and associate anti-pre-S appearance with the clearance of hepatitis B virus from serum.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budkowska
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubreuil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poynard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Loriot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens