Intrahepatic quantification of HBV antigens in chronic hepatitis B reveals heterogeneity and treatment-mediated reductions in HBV core-positive cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Patterns of liver HBV antigen expression have been described but not quantified at single-cell resolution. We applied quantitative techniques to liver biopsies from individuals with chronic hepatitis B and evaluated sampling heterogeneity, effects of disease stage, and nucleos(t)ide (NUC) treatment, and correlations between liver and peripheral viral biomarkers.

Methods

Hepatocytes positive for HBV core and HBsAg were quantified using a novel four-plex immunofluorescence assay and image analysis. Biopsies were analysed from HBeAg-positive (n = 39) and HBeAg-negative (n = 75) participants before and after NUC treatment. To evaluate sampling effects, duplicate biopsies collected at the same time point were compared. Serum or plasma samples were evaluated for

SUBMITTER: Aggarwal A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9996321 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature