Chu C M, Yeh C T, Chien R N, Sheen I S, Liaw Y F
Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Jan;35(1):102-5. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.1.102-105.1997.
Although immunodetection of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the liver has long been recognized as a marker of active hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, the correlation between the level of viral replication and the degrees of expression of HBcAg in hepatocytes remains to be established. In this study, we examined the semiquantitative relationship between the level of HBV DNA in serum and the degree of expression of HBcAg in the hepatocyte nucleus or cytoplasm in 80 adults with chronic hepatitis B. Expression of HBcAg in hepatocytes was studied by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method, and the results were scored on a scale of 0 to 4, values corresponding to the positivity of 0, 1 to 10, 11 to 25, 26 to 50, and > 50%, respectively, of hepatocytes examined. Serum HBV DNA was tested by a liquid hybridization assay, and the results were scored on a scale of 0 to 5, values corresponding to undetectable levels and levels of < or = 50, 51 to 100, 101 to 150, 151 to 200, and > 200 pg/ml, respectively. The results revealed a highly significant, positive correlation between the level of HBV DNA in serum and the degree of expression of HBcAg in nuclei (Spearman rank correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.653, P < 0.001). The mean scores (95% confidence intervals) of levels of HBV DNA in sera of patients whose levels of expression of HBcAg in nuclei received a score of 0 (n = 33), 1 or 2 (n = 35), and 3 or 4 (n = 12) were 1.3 (1.1 to 1.5), 2.5 (2.1 to 2.9), and 3.9 (3.1 to 4.7), respectively. However, no correlation between the level of HBV DNA in serum and the degree of expression of HBcAg in the cytoplasm was noted (rs = 0.026, P > 0.8). In conclusion, the degree of expression of HBcAg in the hepatocyte nucleus but not the cytoplasm can accurately reflect the level of viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
尽管长期以来，肝脏中乙肝核心抗原（HBcAg）的免疫检测一直被视为乙肝病毒（HBV）活跃复制的标志物，但病毒复制水平与肝细胞中HBcAg表达程度之间的相关性仍有待确定。在本研究中，我们检测了80例慢性乙型肝炎成年患者血清中HBV DNA水平与肝细胞核或细胞质中HBcAg表达程度之间的半定量关系。采用抗生物素蛋白-生物素免疫过氧化物酶法研究肝细胞中HBcAg的表达，并根据0至4分进行评分，分别对应所检测肝细胞阳性率为0、1%至10%、11%至25%、26%至50%和>50%。采用液相杂交法检测血清HBV DNA，并根据0至5分进行评分，分别对应检测不到的水平以及<或=50、51至100、101至150、151至200和>200 pg/ml的水平。结果显示，血清中HBV DNA水平与细胞核中HBcAg表达程度之间存在高度显著的正相关（Spearman等级相关系数[rs]=0.653，P<0.001）。细胞核中HBcAg表达评分为0（n=33）、1或2（n=35）以及3或4（n=12）的患者血清中HBV DNA水平的平均评分（及其各自95%置信区间）分别为1.3（1.1至1.5）、2.5（2.1至2.9）和3.9（3.1至4.7）。然而，未观察到血清中HBV DNA水平与细胞质中HBcAg表达程度之间存在相关性（rs=0.026，P>0.8）。总之，肝细胞核而非细胞质中HBcAg的表达程度能够准确反映慢性乙型肝炎患者的病毒复制水平。
