Comparison of class and subclass distribution of antibodies to the hepatitis B core and B e antigens in chronic hepatitis B.

The IgG subclasses IgM and IgA1 of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) were assayed in sera from 82 patients with chronic hepatitis B utilising class/subclass-specific enzyme immunoassays (EIA). The solid-phase was either recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (rHBcAg) or rHBcAg converted to HBeAg by addition of 0.1% SDS with remaining HBcAg antigenicity blocked with monoclonal anti-HBc. Anti-HBc IgG1 was detected in 81 sera at a geometrical mean titre (GMT) of 296,110 x divided by 2.9. Anti-HBc IgG2 was not detected in any of the sera, and anti-HBc IgG3 and IgG4 were detected in 50 and 37 sera, respectively. Anti-HBc IgM and IgA1 were both significantly correlated to the presence of HBV DNA. The predominant antibody to HBeAg was found to be IgG1, being detected in 45 sera with a GMT of 1,035 x divided by 3.3. Anti-HBe IgG2 was not detected in any serum, while anti-HBe IgG3 and IgG4 were found in 8 and 23 sera, respectively. Anti-HBe IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 were mainly detected in sera positive for anti-HBe in RIA (Abbott). No patient was found positive for anti-HBe IgA1 or IgM. Thus, in contrast to HBcAg, HBeAg does not trigger a persistent IgM and IgA1 response in chronic hepatitis B. The levels of anti-HBe IgG1 and IgG3 were much lower than the levels of anti-HBc IgG1 and IgG3. The presence of anti-HBe IgG4 was significantly correlated to that of anti-HBc IgG4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)