Comparison of hepatitis B virus specific RNA, HBV DNA, and HBV antigenic proteins

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus RNA and DNA were studied by Northern and Southern blot hybridization method in 30 (17 HBsAg seropositive and 13 HBsAg seronegative) patients with chronic liver disease. HBV RNA was found in all 17 HBsAg seropositive cases, but in none of the 13 HBsAg seronegative cases. Two different species of HBV RNA (21S RNA and 29S RNA) were found. The 21S HBV RNA hybridized with s-gene specific probe and found in all 17 HBsAg seropositive cases. The 29S HBV RNA was found in 9 cases and this RNA hybridized with both s-gene and c-gene specific probe. Of these 9 cases, free HBV DNA was found in 7 cases and HBeAg was seropositive in 8 cases. Hepatic HBsAg was found in all 17 cases with 21S RNA, whereas hepatic HBcAg was found in 6 cases and these cases were all positive for 29S RNA. Thus, the 21S HBV RNA was thought to be the mRNA of HBsAg and the 29S HBV RNA was the viral pregenome RNA and mRNA of HBcAg and HBeAg.