title: Immunoglobulin G subclasses of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen in HBs antigen positive liver diseases.
abstract: Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in 54 patients with different types of hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) liver diseases (asymptomatic carrier (ASC), acute hepatitis (AH), chronic hepatitis (CH) and liver cirrhosis (LC)) and 18 normal controls were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using subclass specific anti-human mouse monoclonal antibodies. In 11 cases, the estimations were carried out at both exacerbation and remission stages of chronic active hepatitis (CAH). In 4 cases of CAH, serial observations of anti-HBc IgG subclasses were made according to the clinical course. In 5 cases of CAH, the estimations were carried out at the HBe antigen positive (HBeAg+) stage and after sero-conversion to anti-HBe positive (anti-HBe+) stage. In ASC the main anti-HBc IgG subclasses were restricted to one subclass--anti-HBc IgG1. In AH on the other hand, all the subclasses were represented. In CH all the subclasses were detected under different diagnostic conditions but anti-HBc IgG1 was the main subclass. In LC the mean concentration of anti-HBc IgG3 was higher than the concentration of anti-HBc IgG1. In exacerbation stages of CAH, the different anti-HBc IgG subclasses had higher concentrations than in remission stages. The concentrations of different anti-HBc IgG subclasses fell just after seroconversion from HBeAg+ stage to anti-HBe+ stage. These data suggest that the estimation of anti-HBc IgG subclasses may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis of different types and stages of HBsAg+ liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G