Intracellular Distribution of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Expressed In Vitro Depends on the Sequence of the Isolate and the Serologic Pattern

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 189; no. 9; pp. 1634 - 1645
• Main Authors: Jazayeri, Mohammed S., Dornan, Edward S., Boner, Winifred, Fattovich, Giovanna, Hadziyannis, Stephanos, Carman, William F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University Chicago Press 01.05.2004; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Amino acids; Animals; B lymphocytes; Biological and medical sciences; Cell cycle; Cell Nucleus - virology; COS Cells; Cytoplasm - virology; Disease remission; Epitopes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic mutation; Genetic Variation; Hepatitis antigens; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - virology; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - chemistry; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - genetics; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - metabolism; Hepatitis B e Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis B e Antigens - metabolism; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Hepatitis B virus - isolation & purification; Humans; Infectious diseases; Liver Diseases - virology; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mutation; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transfection; Virology; Viruses; Virus; Infection; Microbiology; Hepadnaviridae; Orthohepadnavirus; Isolate; Serology; Intracellular; Hepatitis B virus; Protein
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/382190

Intracellular localization of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in vivo varies with liver cell damage. Localization of HBcAg was studied using transfection of cloned HBcAg variants. Twenty-six samples were obtained from 14 patients with liver disease; 10 were hepatitis B e antigen positive, and 16 were anti-hepatitis B e (HBe) positive. In hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients, HBcAg predominantly localized in the nucleus; in anti-HBe-positive patients, it accumulated mainly in the cytoplasm. Of the 13 samples with nuclear localization, 9 were HBeAg positive; 5 of 13 had C-terminus and/or B cell epitope mutations. All but 1 of the 13 samples with predominantly cytoplasmic localization were anti-HBe positive; all 13 had mutations. Reversion of mutant sequences with cytoplasmic expression back to the wild type led to a shifting back to nuclear distribution. Thus, the pattern of HBcAg localization in vitro depends on sequence and the serologic pattern of chronic infection, paralleling the situation in vivo.