Gut Liver.  2008 Dec;2(3):166-173.

Associations of Expressions of HBcAg and HBsAg with the Histologic Activity of Liver Disease and Viral Replication

• Son MS
• Yoo JH
• Kwon CI
• Ko KH
• Hong SP
• Hwang SG
• Park PW
• Park CK
• Rim KS

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Subcellular localization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is known to be related to the activity of liver disease and the level of HBV replication. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between histologic activity, viral replication, and the intracellular distributions of HBcAg and HBsAg.
METHODS
We enrolled 670 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy at Bundang CHA hospital between 1997 to 2007. The data from medical records were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
The stage of fibrosis was higher (3.31+/-1.34 vs. 2.43+/-1.39, mean+/-SD, p<0.01) and the grade of necroinflammatory activity was higher (9.39+/-3.11 vs. 6.13+/-3.40, p<0.001) for the cytoplasmic expression of HBcAg (cHBcAg) than for the nuclear expression of HBcAg (nHBcAg). The serum HBV DNA level was 677.30+/-983.14 pg/mL in cHBcAg, 1274.46+/-1417.28 pg/mL in nHBcAg, 1121.01+/-1121.0 pg/mL in c-nHBcAg, and 229.47+/-678.92 pg/mL in negative (p<0.001). HBeAg was seropositive in 74.7% of patients with cHBcAg, 90.6% in those with nHBcAg, 90.3% in those with n-cHBcAg, and 55.6% in those with negative (p<0.001). The histologic stage and grade of hepatitis were not significantly correlated with the subcellular localization of intrahepatic HBsAg (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that the histologic activity of hepatitis is higher and viral replication is lower in cHBcAg positive patients than in those with nHBcAg.

Keyword

HBcAg; HBsAg; Necroinflammatory stage; Fibrosis; Virus replication

MeSH Terms

Antigens, Surface
Biopsy
Cytoplasm
DNA
Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Humans
Liver
Liver Diseases
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Virus Replication
Antigens, Surface
DNA
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B e Antigens