Characteristics of woodchuck hepatitis X-antigen in the livers and sera from infected animals.
This study tests the hypothesis that woodchuck hepatitis virus encoded X-antigen expression correlates with viral replication, with hepatitis, or with both. Paired liver and serum samples from each of 55 infected woodchucks were used. Seven of 8 carriers with high levels of viral DNA in serum also had X-antigen in serum. In contrast, the frequency of X-antigen in serum was low among infected woodchucks that did not have viral surface antigen in the serum. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between X-antigen in serum and markers of viral replication. Woodchuck hepatitis X-antigen (WHxAg) expression in liver but not serum of carriers closely correlated with the presence of hepatitis. The finding of X-antigen in the liver of infected animals with hepatitis that cleared the virus surface antigen from serum also suggests that X-antigen is associated with ongoing hepatitis. Hence, the persistence of WHxAg in serum may signal continuing viral replication and, in liver, may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic infection.
Feitelson
M A
MA
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Lega
L
L
Duan
L X
LX
Clayton
M
M
D000818:Animals; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008392:Marmota / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein