title: Core antigen-specific immunoglobulin G bound to the liver cell membrane in chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: The antibody specificity of immunoglobulin G bound to the liver cell membrane during hepatitis B virus infection and chronic liver disease has been studied in 8 patients after antibody elution with high molar urea. Eluted immunoglobulin G showed antibody specificity for hepatitis B core antigen by radioimmunoassay and by indirect immunofluorescence on positive liver tissue. On the contrary, no reaction could be detected against other viral antigens (i.e., hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen) or against liver-specific proteins. Furthermore, in 5 selected cases, after urea removal of cytophilic antibody, hepatitis B core antigen could be demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence in a granular pattern on the liver cell surface, thus suggesting a masking effect of immunoglobulin G on membranous hepatitis B core antigen in patients with persistent virus replication in the liver.
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G