ANTIBODY-RESPONSES TO HEPATITIS-C ENVELOPE PROTEINS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Citation
A. Fournillierjacob et al., ANTIBODY-RESPONSES TO HEPATITIS-C ENVELOPE PROTEINS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C, Journal of medical virology, 50(2), 1996, pp. 159-167
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Virology
Journal title
ISSN journal
01466615
Volume
50
Issue
2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
159 - 167
Database
ISI
SICI code
0146-6615(1996)50:2<159:ATHEPI>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Antibody responses to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins El and E2 were analyzed using two original assays in sera from 86 patien ts in different stages of disease. A Western blot assay and an immunof luorescence assay (IFA) were developed using envelope proteins produce d, respectively, in Escherichia coli and in CV1 cells infected with a recombinant SV40. As a third method, the INNO-LIA HCV Ab III assay inc luding E2 synthetic peptides was used. Of 38 chronically infected pati ents positive for anti-E2 antibodies by IFA, 26 were positive in the W estern blot assay (68%) and 25 in the INNO-LIA test (66%). Thus, the d etection of anti-envelope antibodies is highly dependent on the antige n formulation, and a native glycosylated form of the proteins is proba bly needed for their efficient detection. This study shows that the an tibody response to HCV envelope proteins depends on the phase of infec tion. A few acutely infected patients displayed a response to El or E2 (36% by Western blot, 7% by IFA), and these antibodies seem to develo p in patients evolving toward chronicity. The high prevalence in chron ically infected subjects (62% to E2 by Western blot, 90% by IFA), part icularly in subjects with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (68% and 10 0%), confirms that the resolution of infection involves more than thes e antibodies. The antienvelope response in patients treated with inter feron was investigated, but no significant relationship was found betw een antibody level prior to treatment and the evolution of hepatitis. The detection of anti-envelope antibodies, therefore, is not predictiv e of the response to antiviral therapy. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.