The IgM antibody responses to the core antigen of hepatitis B virus.

Little is known about the immunoglobulin class of antibodies to HBcAg. In the present study sera containing anti-HBc were fractionated by surcose density-gradient centrifugation, and all serum fractions were tested against HBcAg by immunoelectro-osmophoresis. In addition selected fractions were examined by complement fixation test, immune adherence hemagglutination and immune electron microscopy. Anti-HBc activity in IgG serum fractions was demonstrated by all four techniques used, but HBcAg-specific IgM was detected only by immunoelectro-osmophoresis and by immune electron microscopy. In acute hepatitis B, HBcAg-specific IgM was detected for up to eight weeks after the onset of jaundice. It was also found transiently in two patients who developed chronic hepatitis B without an icteric episode and in one out of thirteen patients with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease, but in none of eight healthy HBsAg carriers. The results suggested that HBcAg-specific IgM is formed transiently in response to primary HBV infection but is generally undetectable in established HBsAg carriers.