Detection of mononuclear cells expressing hepatitis B virus in peripheral blood from HBsAg positive and negative patients by in situ hybridisation.
In situ hybridisation was used to detect RNA of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in peripheral mononuclear blood cells. Presence of HBV-RNA was detected in 10/17 HBsAg positive HBeAg positive patients, in 8/18 HBsAg positive HBeAg negative patients, in 1/3 anti-HBs positive subjects. Four control subjects were negative. The frequency of labelled cells varied from 1 to 10% of mononuclear cells. These results indicate that the DNA detected so far in mononuclear blood cells may be transcriptionally active.
Hadchouel
M
M
Inserm U 56, Hôpital de Bicêtre, France.
Pasquinelli
C
C
Fournier
J G
JG
Hugon
R N
RN
Scotto
J
J
Bernard
O
O
Brechot
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral