TY - JOUR
T1 - Chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Viral replication and patterns of inflammatory activity
T2 - Serological, clinical and histological correlations
AU - Paz, M. O A
AU - Brenes, F.
AU - Karayiannis, P.
AU - Jowett, T. P.
AU - Scheuer, P. J.
AU - Thomas, H. C.
PY - 1986
Y1 - 1986
N2 - We have studied serum and tissue markers of viral replication in 39 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and correlated these with periportal and lobular activity in liver biopsies. HBV DNA positivity correlated with the presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg, P < 0.001) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels (P < 0.005). The lobular but not the periportal inflammatory activity was significantly associated with the presence of HBV DNA (P < 0.02) and HBeAg (P < 0.001) and with higher AST levels. The periportal activity correlated with the periportal and lobular display of β2-microglobulin on hepatocytes (P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In patients with chronic HBV infection therefore, the lobular rather than the periportal component of activity was related to viral replication. The association of display of β2-microglobulin on hepatocytes with the inflammatory process, in patients with active viral replication, is consistent with the hypothesis that increased display of HLA type I enhances recognition of hepatocytes bearing viral proteins and allows lysis of immune cells.
AB - We have studied serum and tissue markers of viral replication in 39 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and correlated these with periportal and lobular activity in liver biopsies. HBV DNA positivity correlated with the presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg, P < 0.001) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels (P < 0.005). The lobular but not the periportal inflammatory activity was significantly associated with the presence of HBV DNA (P < 0.02) and HBeAg (P < 0.001) and with higher AST levels. The periportal activity correlated with the periportal and lobular display of β2-microglobulin on hepatocytes (P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In patients with chronic HBV infection therefore, the lobular rather than the periportal component of activity was related to viral replication. The association of display of β2-microglobulin on hepatocytes with the inflammatory process, in patients with active viral replication, is consistent with the hypothesis that increased display of HLA type I enhances recognition of hepatocytes bearing viral proteins and allows lysis of immune cells.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0022863053&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0168-8278(86)80491-3
DO - 10.1016/S0168-8278(86)80491-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 3549868
AN - SCOPUS:0022863053
SN - 0168-8278
VL - 3
SP - 371
EP - 377
JO - Journal of Hepatology
JF - Journal of Hepatology
IS - 3
ER -
