title: Heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus surface antigen in sera of patients with acute hepatitis B infection in relative content of the antigenic determinants a and preS2.
abstract: Using five ELISA variants we have analyzed the ratios of the antigenic determinants 'a' (a-D), preS2 (preS2-D) and the polymerized human serum albumin binding domains (PHSA-BD) in the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) particles contained in sera of three patients with acute viral hepatitis B. Quantitative relations between the a-D, preS2-D and PHSA-BD were shown to differ in these sera. Population of the HBsAg particles in each of the sera appeared heterogeneous in respect to the PHSA-BD activity. The HBsAg particles with high affinity PHSA-BD prevailed in one serum. An additional class of particles with low affinity to PHSA or complete lack of the PHSA-BD was present in the remaining sera. The HBsAg particles carrying the high affinity PHSA-BD were characterized by an elevated (and almost constant for the three sera) surface density of the preS2-D. The results have led us to the conclusion that the existence of the preS2-D on the surface of the HBsAg particles is necessary but insufficient for the high affinity binding of the HBsAg to PHSA. A model for the interaction between the preS2-D carrying HBsAg particles and PHSA is presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gene Biology RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Grigoriev
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Grigorieva
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Altstein
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000276:immunology; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C032137:polyalbumin; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human