title: Localization of hepatitis C virus RNA on human erythrocytes by RT in situ PCR technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our previous results showed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is detectable on erythrocytes by RT in situ PCR. The aims of the present study were to compare the sensitivity of this erythrocyte in situ PCR to routine serum solution phase HCV PCR as well as to obtain more data about the binding and cellular localization of HCV in the erythrocyte.
  
  
  METHODS
  105 previously HCV-infected patients and 20 control individuals were studied using RT in situ PCR on erythrocytes and solution phase RT-PCR from serum samples. Binding of HCV to erythrocytes was studied by in vitro inoculation. RT in situ PCR results were evaluated by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 105 HCV cases, 78 gave positive, while 5-and all control cases-gave negative results by both PCR techniques. In 21 cases, only the in situ technique provided positive results, while in only I case did the solution phase method provide positive results. During in vitro inoculation, an early HCV-erythrocyte binding was detected followed by virus internalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythrocyte-in situ PCR was found to show higher sensitivity for the detection of HCV compared to the generally applied serum PCR method. In vitro studies suggested a specific binding of HCV to erythrocyte and showed the virus to be capable of internalization.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Dept of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Szalay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Firneisz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abonyi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Telegdy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ibrányi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nemes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kury
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Schaff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral