Conserved core protein sequences in hepatitis B virus infected patients without anti-HBc.
The absence of detectable anti-HBc antibodies in some hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients may be due to altered core-protein (HBc) sequences. To investigate this possibility we sequenced the pre-C/C-region of HBV isolated from 12 juvenile cancer patients who incurred a nosocomial infection of HBV during chemotherapy but did not develop anti-HBc antibodies or acute cytolytic episodes. The sequences demonstrated the highest sequence homology to the pre-C/C region of a previously cloned HBV genome (subtype ayw) and no deletions or striking mutations were detected. Up to 7 years after infection almost all the survivors developed low titers of anti-HBc antibodies but no clinical signs of hepatic damage. These results suggest that chemotherapy may induce a tolerance status to HBcAg, the most immunogenic HBV protein.
Melegari
M
M
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie Martinsried/München, Federal Republic of Germany.
Jung
M C
MC
Schneider
R
R
Santantonio
T
T
Bagnulo
S
S
Luchena
N
N
Pastore
G
G
Pape
G
G
Scaglioni
P P
PP
Villa
E
E
D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins