Impaired intrahepatic hepatitis B virus productivity contributes to low viremia in most HBeAg-negative patients

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 133; no. 3; p. 843
• Main Authors: Volz, Tassilo, Lutgehetmann, Marc, Wachtler, Paul, Jacob, Anna, Quaas, Alexander, Murray, John M, Dandri, Maura, Petersen, Joerg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Biopsy; Case-Control Studies; DNA, Viral - blood; Female; Genotype; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - physiology; Hepatitis B - blood; Hepatitis B - immunology; Hepatitis B e Antigens - blood; Humans; Liver - pathology; Liver - virology; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation - genetics; RNA, Viral - blood; Viral Core Proteins - genetics; Viremia - blood; Viremia - etiology; Viremia - immunology; Virus Replication - physiology

Knowledge of factors regulating transcriptional activity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) may help in understanding mechanisms of viral decay and how these processes are thwarted in chronically HBV-infected patients. Liver biopsies from 119 treatment-naive chronical...