Detection of antibodies against the polymerase gene product in hepatitis B virus infection.
We have studied antibodies (anti-pol antibody) against the polymerase gene product of hepatitis B virus by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using synthetic peptides coded for by this gene. Sera from six patients with acute hepatitis B, 112 chronic hepatitis B virus carriers and six healthy individuals with naturally acquired immunity to hepatitis B virus were tested for anti-pol antibody. In acute hepatitis B virus infection, anti-pol antibody was detected in three of six patients. In chronic hepatitis B virus infection, anti-pol antibody was detected in 17 of 29 (59%), in 23 of 33 (70%) of cirrhotic patients and in 18 of 24 (75%) patients with cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with 4 of 19 (21%) asymptomatic carriers and 2 of 7 (29%) patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. Titers of anti-pol antibody were higher in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma than in patients with chronic active hepatitis. The presence of anti-pol antibody, however, had no relationship with hepatitis B virus-associated DNA polymerase activities and other viral replicative markers. As for sera from six healthy individuals with naturally acquired immunity to hepatitis B virus, two (33%) were positive for anti-pol antibody. These results indicate that the immune response toward the polymerase gene product is induced during acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In chronic hepatitis B virus infection, anti-pol antibody may serve as a new marker indicative of a long period of hepatitis B virus-induced hepatitis.
Yuki
N
N
First Department of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Kasahara
A
A
Katayama
K
K
Ueda
K
K
Fusamoto
H
H
Kamada
T
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000637:Transaminases; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase