Abstract
Immunohistochemical study of HBsAg and HBcAg in 247 liver biopsy specimens of type B liver diseases was carried out to clarify the (immune) mechanism of hepatocyte lysis particularly in connection with infiltrating inflammatory cells, by double immunostaining using β-galactosidase and peroxidase antibody techniques. HBsAg expressed on the liver cell membrane was frequently displayed in NSRH (27.9%), and also frequent in CAH (14.3%), mainly in the periportal areas. HBcAg was mainly found in the nucleus in NSRH, whereas it was predominated in the cytoplasm of hepatocyte in CAH. Hepatocyte cytoplasm containing both HBsAg and HBcAg were preferentially demonstrated in the severe inflammatory lesions by a double immunostaining. These findings suggest that the increased replicatiou of HBV and its related antigens induces the response of lymphocytemediated liver cell injury in type B hepatitis.
