Dane particle-associated hepatitis B e antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatitis B e antibody.
A commercial radioimmunoassay was adapted to detect serum Dane particle-associated HBeAg in patients whose sera contained homologous antibody. HBeAg was released from Dane particles with guanidine HCl. Dane particles were separated from anti-HBe by gel-filtration (Sepharose 4B) and ultracentrifugation of the eluate. Dane particle-HBeAg was tested in 45 HBsAg carriers with anti-HBe and was present in 8 (18%) carriers, all of whom had chronic liver disease. By contrast, HBeAg was not found in 10 carriers with normal liver histology. Serum or liver HBcAg was found in 6 of 8 patients with Dane particle-HBeAg. None of the carriers without Dane particle-HBeAg had other markers of hepatitis B virion synthesis. We conclude that Dane particle-HBeAg provides a sensitive index of active hepatitis B virus replication, a guide to the presence of chronic hepatitis in HBsAg carriers with anti-HBe, and a noninvasive method to follow infection in these patients.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002353:Carrier State; D004261:DNA Replication; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014771:Virion / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase