title: Interactions of hepatitis B virus with hepatocytes: mechanism and clinical relevance.
abstract: A receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV) on hepatocytes has been postulated. There is increasing evidence that the binding of the virus to the target cell surface is mediated by epitopes of the pre-S proteins of the HBV envelope. In contrast to vaccination with HBsAg, passive immunization for the prevention of HBV infection is less effective. Using antibodies against the pre-S proteins, representing the putative attachment site for HBV binding to hepatocytes, a more efficient means of protection might be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Heidelberg.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Theilmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goeser
mesh_terms: D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011946:Receptors, Antigen; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C030500:hepatitis B surface antigen receptor; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen