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Detection of antibodies against the polymerase gene product in hepatitis B virus infection
Author(s) -
Yuki Nobukazu,
Hayashi Norio,
Kasahara Akinori,
Katayama Kazuhiro,
Ueda Keiji,
Fusamoto Hideyuki,
Kamada Takenobu
Publication year - 1990
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.1840120203
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis b virus , virology , antibody , virus , medicine , hepatitis b virus dna polymerase , hepatitis c virus , hepatology , hepatitis , hepatitis b , immunology
We have studied antibodies (anti‐pol antibody) against the polymerase gene product of hepatitis B virus by solid‐phase enzyme immunoassay using synthetic peptides coded for by this gene. Sera from six patients with acute hepatitis B, 112 chronic hepatitis B virus carriers and six healthy individuals with naturally acquired immunity to hepatitis B virus were tested for anti‐pol antibody. In acute hepatitis B virus infection, anti‐pol antibody was detected in three of six patients. In chronic hepatitis B virus infection, antipol antibody was detected in 17 of 29 (59%), in 23 of 33 (70%) of cirrhotic patients and in 18 of 24 (75%) patients with cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with 4 of 19 (21%) asymptomatic carriers and 2 of 7 (29%) patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. Titers of anti‐pol antibody were higher in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma than in patients with chronic active hepatitis. The presence of anti‐pol antibody, however, had no relationship with hepatitis B virus‐associated DNA polymerase activities and other viral replicative markers. As for sera from six healthy individuals with naturally acquired immunity to hepatitis B virus, two (33%) were positive for anti‐pol antibody. These results indicate that the immune response toward the polymerase gene product is induced during acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In chronic hepatitis B virus infection, anti‐pol antibody may serve as a new marker indicative of a long period of hepatitis B virus‐induced hepatitis. (H EPATOLOGY 1990;12:193–198).