title: Detection of IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies to preS2 antigen in hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Antibodies to the preS2 antigen (anti-preS2) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), including IgA, IgM and IgG classes, were observed in patients with acute and persistent HBV infection. In acute HBV infection, rapid and marked serum IgM and IgA anti-preS2 responses were observed. Antibodies reached a peak of serum activity at about 1-2 months after the onset of clinical symptoms, and both antibodies disappeared from serum at 4 months after. IgG anti-preS2 was detected in the early phase of the illness, then the level of IgG anti-preS2 gradually rose during the recovery phase. In persistent HBV infection, IgG and IgM anti-preS2 were detected in sera where the preS2 antigen was present, and IgM anti-preS2 was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in HBeAg-positive than in HBeAg-negative patients. These results indicate that an adequate humoral immune response to the preS2 antigen is induced during acute and persistent HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Section 1), Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yachi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen