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Distribution of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in different peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets in HBs antigen‐positive and negative patients
Author(s) -
CALMUS Y.,
MARCELLIN P.,
BEAURAIN G.,
CHATENOUD L.,
BRÉCHOT C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1994.tb01105.x
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , virology , hepatitis b virus , antigen , immunology , antibody , medicine , virus , cd8 , hepatitis b , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences have been detected in leucocytes from HBV‐infected individuals. The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of HBV for a special leucocyte subset in nine healthy chronic HBV carriers, nine HBs antigen‐positive patients with chronic active hepatitis, 16 HBs antigen‐negative haemophiliacs with HBc and/or HBs antibodies, and 10 patients with HBV‐related systemic necrotizing vasculitis. HBV‐DNA sequences were found by Southern blot hybridization in the leucocytes of 15 out of the 44 (34%) patients. The prevalence was not significantly different between the four groups. HBV‐DNA was found in the CD4+ cells (9/11) as well as in the CD8+ cells (4/11), B cells (4/12) and monocytes (2/12). In conclusion, leucocytes, and particularly CD4+ lymphocytes, are frequently infected by HBV in patients with HBV serum markers.