title: Expression of HCV E2/NS1 protein as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein: detection of anti-E2/NS1 antibody in chronic liver disease.
abstract: The presence of anti-E2 antibody was investigated in the serum samples of 46 patients with liver disease, who were positive for hepatitis C virus-RNA, and in five subjects HCV-RNA-negative acting as controls. Antibody to E2/NS1 protein was found in seven of 46 (15%) of the patients with liver disease but in none of the control subjects. In one patient who was treated successfully with interferon, the levels of anti-E2 gradually decreased and then finally disappeared after treatment. This suggests that the E2/NS1 protein may play a role in active viral replication.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohto
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004926:Escherichia coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D058619:Maltose-Binding Proteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D058619:Maltose-Binding Proteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; C461599:maltose transport system, E coli