Hepatitis B virus DNA in children's liver diseases: detection by blot hybridisation in liver and serum.

Abstract

SUMMARY Molecular hybridisation using cloned hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) was applied to liver and serum samples from 46 children (39 with liver diseases and seven controls) for detection of HBV DNA sequences, free and integrated into the liver cell genome. HBV DNA integration was observed in 10 children. The young age of some of these cases indicates that such integration can occur early in liver disease and is not related to the duration of viral infection. Thirteen children exhibited serological evidence of active viral multiplication. All but one had free HBV DNA in liver tissue and integrated HBV DNA sequences were found in four cases. Integrated HBV DNA sequences alone were also detected in three children with neither HBV-antigens nor HBV DNA in serum. One had inactive cirrhosis, and the two others, chronic active hepatitis. Consequently DNA hybridisation may be useful for diagnosis, in the absence of serological signs of HBV infection; its specificity was enhanced in the present investigation by negative results in six children with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Taken together, the above results imply that HBV-DNA

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in mononuclear blood cells.

“…Sequences of hepatitis B virus DNA were detected in the mononuclear cells of 10 out of 16 (fig 2) after endonuclease digestion of cellular DNA with Hind III (which generally does not cut hepatitis B virus DNA) and Eco RI (which usually cuts the viral genome once). In the first pattern (fig 2; lanes A-C) Hind III digestion of cellular DNA resulted in one band at the 11 kilobase (kb) position.…”

Does Hepatitis B Virus Prenatal Transmission Result in Postnatal Immunoprophylaxis Failure?

“…Some authors have assumed that DNA integration might be the reason for postnatal immunoprophylaxis failure (23). In a study of children with serious liver disorders, HBV DNA sequences were found integrated into liver cells alone, without HBV antigens and HBV DNA being present in the serum (15). Whether this kind of silent infection originates from transmission via the ovum or the early embryo will be difficult to confirm in humans due to ethical considerations.…”

A Retrospective Study of the Role of Delta Agent Infection in Children With Hbsag–Positive Chronic Hepatitis

“…In 90 children, HBeAg and anti-HBe were retrospectively assayed by radioimmunoassay, and in 70 children, serum hepatitis B virus DNA was investigated by molecular hybridization (9). RESULTS Chronic hepatitis of one type or another was present in each child: 5 had chronic lobular hepatitis, 49 had chronic persistent hepatitis and 21 had chronic active hepatitis (seven with severe histological lesions, such as bridging and/or multilobular necrosis).…”