title: Intrahepatic HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels in patients positive for anti-HBc and negative for HBsAg.
abstract: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a unique episomal replicative intermediate molecule of hepatitis B virus (HBV) which plays a key role in viral persistence. The aim of this study was to prove cccDNA persistence in the liver tissue of patients negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positive for antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBc). Intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA were determined using real-time and semi-nested PCR assays on the liver tissues of 35 patients who were negative for HBsAg and positive for anti-HBc with or without anti-HBs. HBV DNA was detected in the liver tissue of 4 out of 35 patients who were positive for anti-HBc. None of the samples harbored cccDNA. In this study population, which is of Asian origin, very low levels of HBV DNA were detected in a small percentage of patients with anti-HBc. Even using the highly sensitive semi-nested PCR assay, HBV cccDNA was not detectable in any anti-HBc positive patients either with or without anti-HBs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Roongruedee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaiteerakij
authors.forename: Piyawat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Komolmit
authors.forename: Pattaratida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sa-nguanmoo
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens