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Correlation Between Liver Histology and Markers of Hepatitis B Virus Replication in Infected Patients: A Study by In Situ Hybridization
Author(s) -
Burrell Christopher J.,
Gowans Eric J.,
Rowland Robert,
Hall Pauline,
Jilbert Allison R.,
Marmion Barrie P.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840040104
Subject(s) - hbcag , hbsag , hbeag , hepatitis b virus , virology , in situ hybridization , biology , virus , viral replication , hepatitis b , antigen , hepatitis , cirrhosis , liver disease , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , gene expression , gene
Liver sections from 18 patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and from 12 negative patients, were examined for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA using an in situ hybridization assay that would identify only those hepatocytes containing more than 10 to 15 HBV genome equivalents per cell. Such cells are likely to be undergoing active viral replication, rather than latent infection. The findings were correlated with results of tissue immunofluorescence for HBV antigens and the presence of serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), together with histologic assessment of each liver. HBV DNA detected in the above assay was predominantly cytoplasmic; it was associated with the presence of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in hepatocytes and HBeAg in serum, and to a lesser extent with cirrhosis and immunosuppression, but not with the presence of HBsAg in hepatocytes, nor with histological evidence of disease activity judged by the presence of piece‐meal necrosis and lobular and portal tract inflammation. These findings support the view that liver HBcAg and serum HBeAg are markers of virus replication, and demonstrate that active liver disease in HBsAg‐positive patients may occur with or without such markers of replication. It is proposed that alternative mechanisms for hepatocyte injury may apply in different chronic HBV patients, one related to virus replication and one dependent on immunological factors.