title: Association of antibodies to hepatitis C virus glycoproteins 1 and 2 (anti-E1E2) with HCV disease.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic liver diseases in humans. Its two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, provide a target for host immune recognition. HCV genotypes are classified into six genetic groups. To study the role of anti-HCV E1 and E2 (anti-E1E2) in HCV disease, the correlation between antibody level and viral load, genotype, disease severity and response to treatment was investigated. The levels of antibodies to HCV glycoproteins E1 and E2 antibodies were evaluated in 230 sera of patients with chronic hepatitis C by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antigens used were recombinant HCV glycoproteins derived from genotype 1 (H77c) and genotype 3 (UKN3A1.28). Seroreactivity was greater when sera were tested against antigen derived from their homologous genotype than against heterologous antigen. Reactivity against UKN3A1.28 in sera from patients infected with genotype 3 was significantly higher than corresponding reactivity between patients infected with genotype 1 and H77c. The seroreactivity was inversely proportional to the viral load and to the degree of liver fibrosis. The pre-treatment level of anti-E1E2 was higher in sustained responders to combination therapy. These results demonstrate that seroreactivity against E1E2 depends upon the genotypic origin of the E1E2 antigens and the infecting genotype, and suggest a possible protective effect of anti-E1E2 against disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: M R B
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hickling
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Irving
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus