Detection of hepatitis B virus transcripts in patients with chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription was studied by Northern blot analysis on total cellular RNA purified from liver biopsies in 70 patients with chronic liver disease (24 HBsAg positive, 15 antiHBs and/or antiHBc positive, 31 HBV negative). No transcripts were found in the HBV negative and in the antiHBs and/or antiHBc positive patients. In the others, three major RNA species were identified: i. a 3.5 kb transcript corresponding to the RNA pregenome; ii. 2.4-2.1 kb transcript corresponding to the s and preS1 gene RNA; iii. lower molecular weight species. All three forms were present simultaneously only in patients with active viral replication, with a strict relation between the presence of the 3.5 kb RNA in the liver and serum HBV-DNA. In conclusion, Northern blot analysis can easily be performed to study viral replication and it can contribute to a better understanding of the molecular processes underlying HBV infection and leading to liver disease in man.
Pasquinelli
C
C
Chair of Gastroenterology, University of Modena, Italy.
Melegari
M
M
Villa
E
E
Seidenari
M
M
Scaglioni
P P
PP
Tiribelli
C
C
Crocé
L S
LS
Manenti
F
F
D001706:Biopsy; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019791:Guanidine; D006146:Guanidines; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006146:Guanidines; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D010636:Phenols; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019800:Phenol; D019791:Guanidine