Quantitative analysis of HBV cccDNA from liver biopsy specimens in HBV carriers: correlation with serological makers and sera HBV DNA / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation of sera HBV DNA and serological makers with hepatic tissue HBVcccDNA in chronic HBV carriers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and total intrahepatic HBV DNA from 30 needle-biopsy specimens as well as HBV DNA in sera in chronic HBV carriers. Quantification of the HBsAg, HBeAg in sera were quantified using Chemiluminescence immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBVcccDNA can be detected in chronic HBV carriers, which rang from 3.15 x 10(3) copies/mg to 1.06 x 10(7) copies/mg. There was a positive correlation between the cccDNA and HBVtDNA (r = 0.375, P < 0.05), but there was no correlation between the cccDNA and sera HBV DNA (P = 0.174). There was a positive correlation between cccDNA and sera HBsAg quantification (r = 0.562, P < 0.001) but no correlation with sera HBeAg qantification (r = 0.152, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV cccDNA can be replicated stably in hepatic tissue in all chronic HBV carriers. HBV DNA in sera can not be indicated hepatic tissue cccDNA level. While HBsAg quantification in sera can be used as a marker of cccDNA quantification in hepatic tissue to some extent.</p>