Circulating hepatocyte membrane-specific autoantibodies in chronic active hepatitis type B. Relation to virus replication activity and liver cell necrosis.
Sera from two groups of untreated HBsAG-positive patients with chronic active hepatitis on liver biopsy were tested for antibodies to liver cell membrane antigens (liver-specific protein, LSP; and liver membrane antigen, LM-Ag). Among the 14 HBeAg-positive cases, seven (50%) were positive for anti-LSP, whereas only two (13%) of 15 anti-HBe-positive cases circulated this antibody. Liver membrane autoantibody (LMA) was detected only in two sera from delta-positive patients (1 HBeAg positive and 1 anti-HBe positive). Anti-LSP-positive patients presented transaminase values significantly higher than those of the negative cases. Our data do not support the hypothesis that a liver-specific autoimmune mechanism plays a significant role in the immunopathogenesis of liver cell necrosis in anti-HBe-positive chronic active hepatitis type B. The relationship between hepatocyte necrosis and anti-LSP antibody response is confirmed.
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D014779:Virus Replication
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens