Anti-pre-S responses and viral clearance in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
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.
Budkowska
A
A
Microbial Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Dubreuil
P
P
Poynard
T
T
Marcellin
P
P
Loriot
M A
MA
Maillard
P
P
Pillot
J
J
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*
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens