title: Analysis of complement-bound HCV complexes using a novel immuno-capture RT-PCR method.
abstract: Recently, more and more evidence has supported the hypothesis that liver cell injury was immune-mediated in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and that circulating immune complexes (CICs) might play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (HC). In the present study, we have combined immuno-capture and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and developed a quick method of high specificity for the detection of complement-bound HCV-CIC. We found that there were higher frequencies of HCV-C1q CIC than that of HCV-factor B, and there was a deviation of complement from immunoglobulin (Ig) in HCV-CIC. These findings suggest that immuno-capture RT-PCR (iRT-PCR) for the detection of HCV-bound CIC is a valuable method for the analysis of the composition of the immune complexes, and for the understanding of host immune response and immune pathogenesis in HCV-infected individuals.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Cell Biology and Tumor Cell Engineering, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Q Z
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015922:Complement C1q