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In situ detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in liver tissue using a digoxigenin‐labeled probe created during a polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
Cho Sung Won,
Hwang Seong Gyu,
Han Dong Cheol,
Jin So Young,
Lee Moon Sung,
Shim Chan Sup,
Lee Dong Wha,
Lee Hi Bahl
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199603)48:3<227::aid-jmv3>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - in situ hybridization , digoxigenin , hepatitis c virus , virology , cirrhosis , hepatitis c , biology , polymerase chain reaction , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , virus , hepatitis , lobules of liver , hepatitis b virus dna polymerase , messenger rna , medicine , gene , biochemistry , endocrinology
The cellular localization of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver tissue was studied by nonisotopic in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin‐labeled cDNA probe created during a polymerase chain reaction on samples from 16 patients with chronic HCV infection. Hybridization signals were recognized in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, and a few hepatocytes had hybridization signals in the nucleus as well. HCV RNA positive hepatocytes were found in 1 of 9 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 2 of 5 patients with chronic active hepatitis, and in each of 2 patients with chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. Positive signals were found in many hepatocytes within the lobule in liver sections of patients with advanced chronic active hepatitis. A number of HCV RNA positive hepatocytes were found in nodules, but not in the area of fibrosis. On the other hand, positive signals were found in a few hepatocytes scattered in the lobule in a patient with chronic persistent hepatitis. The mean ALT levels in the patients with positive signal (175.6 ± 44.2 U/L) were significantly higher than in those without a signal (70.27 ± 16.1 U/L) ( P < 0.05). The findings suggest that a larger amount of HCV may be present during the advanced than during the early stages of type C hepatitis and nonisotopic in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin‐labeled HCV cDNA probe created during a polymerase chain reaction deserves wider application for the detection of HCV replication in specimens. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.