Detection of proteins encoded by the pre-S region of hepatitis B virus in the sera of HBsAg carriers: relation to viral replication.
In order to determine the relationship between the presence of pre-S1 and pre-S2 proteins and the level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, a study of 94 HBsAg chronic carriers, 15 anti-HBe positive patients who suffered a viral reactivation and 12 HBeAg, HBV-DNA positive cases under antiviral therapy, has been carried out. Pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens were detected by RIA using polystyrene beads coated with anti-preS1 or anti-preS2 (Dr W. Gerlich, Göttingen) and 125I-anti-HBs as tracer. The presence of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens was detected in 74 (79%) and 85 (90%), respectively, out of the 94 HBsAg chronic carriers included. The level of these antigens was significantly higher in HBeAg, HBV-DNA positive patients than in the other patients (p less than 0.05). Among anti-HBe positive patients suffering a reactivation, a significant increase of pre-S1 and pre-S2 levels was observed, concurring with ALT exacerbation and HBV-DNA positivity. After reactivation, the level of pre-S antigens returned to the basal values. A significant decrease in pre-S antigen levels (p less than 0.05) among patients who respond to recombinant interferon therapy was observed, while no changes were detected among non-responder cases. The detection of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens in serum is more frequent in those patients with high viral replication. Furthermore, among anti-HBe carriers with a viral reactivation, synthesis of pre-S antigens takes place again.
Ibarra
M Z
MZ
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Diaz, Madrid, Spain.
Mora
I
I
Bartolomé
J
J
Porres
J C
JC
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen