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HBxAg in the liver from carrier patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
1Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBxAg) is frequently detected in liver cells of patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Its presence suggests a role in chronic liver disease pathogenesis and potential diagnostic value.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis.
- The role of specific HBV proteins, such as HBxAg, in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and frequency of Hepatitis B virus x-antigen (HBxAg) in liver tissues from patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
- To evaluate the potential of HBxAg as a diagnostic marker for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Main Methods:
- Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver specimens from 110 chronic hepatitis and 108 cirrhosis cases were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry, specifically the avidin-biotin complex technique and peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method, was used to detect HBxAg, HBsAg, and HBcAg.
- Staining specificity was confirmed using control sera and blocking assays.
Main Results:
- HBxAg was detected in a high frequency of liver cells in both chronic hepatitis (specific percentages not detailed in abstract) and cirrhosis (specific percentages not detailed in abstract) patients.
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) were also prevalent in these patient groups.
- High prevalence of HBxAg in chronic liver disease suggests its potential involvement in disease progression.
Conclusions:
- The persistence and high frequency of HBxAg in liver cells of patients with chronic liver disease indicate a potential role in pathogenesis.
- Detection of HBxAg in the liver may serve as an additional diagnostic marker for hepatitis B virus infection.
- The precise functions of HBxAg in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease remain to be determined.
Abstract:
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 110 cases of chronic hepatitis and 108 cases of cirrhosis were stained for HBxAg by the avidin-biotin complex technique using specific antisera made against full-length HBxAg polypeptide or derived synthetic peptides. These tissues were also stained for the HBsAg and HBcAg by the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method. Among patients with chronic hepatitis, 86% were HBsAg positive in liver cells, 60% were surface antigen positive and 32% were core antigen positive. Among patients with cirrhosis, 97% were HBsAg positive in liver cells, 72% were surface antigen positive and 17% were positive for core antigen. Staining specificity was demonstrated, in part, by using preimmune sera in the place of primary antibody, by blocking of the primary antibody with the appropriate antigen before assay and by testing uninfected liver controls. The persistence and high frequency of HBxAg in liver cells from patients with chronic liver disease suggest that it may play one or more important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic infection. It is possible that detection of HBxAg in the liver could be an additional new diagnostic marker for hepatitis B virus infection. However, the function(s) of HBxAg in the pathogenesis of the chronic liver disease, if any, remains to be explained.