Specificity of hepatitis B virus affinity for human hepatic tissue

Using radiolabeled purified hepatitis B surface antigen and human liver slices, the affinity of hepatitis B virus to its host organ was evaluated. Saturable adsorption of the 125I-HBs Ag complex to liver was demonstrated over both time and complex concentration which could be blocked by excess unlabeled antigen. The specific binding was not found using human pancreas, lung, or kidney tissue. Correspondingly, no specific binding could be found for murine liver but it could be demonstrated with woodchuck liver. The woodchuck is a natural host for one of the newly described hepatitis B-like viruses which is antigenically cross-reactive with the B virus.