Detection of hepatitis B virus X gene protein and antibody in type B chronic liver disease.
The genome of the hepatitis B virus contains a sequence (X gene) whose role is unclear. The almost complete region of the hepatitis B virus X gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, with the resulting protein being approximately 17 kilodaltons in molecular weight. Sera from 139 subjects were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Of the hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients, anti-X was not found in 4 patients with acute hepatitis and in 12 healthy carriers, but was present in 41% (21/51) of the patients with chronic hepatitis, 63% (15/24) of those with liver cirrhosis, and 46% (12/26) of those with hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of the X product in the liver tissues (43 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients) was investigated using an indirect immunohistochemical method. The X protein was observed in 64% (21/33) of the patients with chronic hepatitis and 50% (5/10) of those with liver cirrhosis, and was found when the serum was negative for anti-X. Hepatitis B core antigen was frequently expressed together with the X protein in the liver. The conclusions reached were that the frequency of anti-X increases with the length of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, that anti-X may suppress the expression of the X protein in the liver, and that the X protein may be related to hepatitis B virus replication.
Katayama
K
K
First Department of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Sasaki
Y
Y
Kasahara
A
A
Ueda
K
K
Fusamoto
H
H
Sato
N
N
Chisaka
O
O
Matsubara
K
K
Kamada
T
T
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens