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
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.