Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining in liver tissue taken at biopsy from 8 anti-HCV positive patients. Frozen liver sections were stained by indirect immunofluorescence for capsid, E2/NS1, NS3, NS4 and NS5 using polyclonal antibodies raised to synthetic peptides from these regions. The antigens E2 and NS3 were localised in scattered hepatocytes and also in cells within and around areas of inflammation. A weaker signal was observed for NS4 and NS5 and no signal was seen for capsid antigen. No staining was seen in liver tissue from 9 individuals, including 3 hepatitis B virus-positive and 2 hepatitis delta virus/positive patients, who were negative for serological markers of HCV. The specificity of the staining reaction was also confirmed by the lack of staining in HCV-positive liver samples, after the antisera was pre-adsorbed against the specific peptide. Collectively, the data suggests that HCV may not only be hepatotropic but also lymphotropic, and this may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of HCV infection.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choo Q-L, Kuo G, Weiner AJ,et al. Isolation of a cDNA clone derived from a blood-borne non-A, non-B viral hepatitis genome. Science 1989;244: 359–362.
Kato N, Hijikata M, Ootsuyama Y,et al. Molecular cloning of the human hepatitis C virus genome from Japanese patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990;87: 9524–9528.
Kuo G, Choo Q-L, Alter HG,et al. An assay for circulating antibodies to a major etiologic virus of human non-A, non-B hepatitis. Science 1989;244: 362–364.
Miyamura T, Saito I, Katayama T,et al. Detection of antibody against antigen expressed by molecularly cloned hepatitis C virus cDNA: Application to diagnosis and blood screening for posttransfusion hepatitis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990;87: 983–987.
Shimizu YK, Weiner AJ, Rosenblatt J,et al. Early events in hepatitis C virus infection of chimpanzees. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990;87: 6441–6444.
Takehara T, Hayashi N, Mita E,et al. Detection of the minus strand of hepatitis C virus RNA by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction: Implications for hepatitis C virus replication in infected tissue. Hepatology 1992;15: 387–390.
Blight K, Trowbridge R, Rowland R,et al. Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA byin situ hybridisation. Liver 1992;12: 286–289.
Shimizu YK, Iwamoto A, Hijikata M,et al. Evidence forin vitro replication of hepatitis C virus genome in a human T-cell line. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992;89: 5477–5481.
Krawczynski K, Beach MF, Bradley DW,et al. Hepatitis C virus antigen in hepatocytes: Immunomorphologic detection and identification, Gastroenterology 1992;103: 622–629.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blight, K., Lesniewski, R., LaBrooy, J. et al. Localisation of hepatitis C virus proteins in infected liver tissue by immunofluorescence. Gastroenterol Jpn 28 (Suppl 5), 55–58 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02989207
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02989207