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Ou G, Zhao C, Deng J, Zhuang H, Xiang K, Li T. Host sex disparity and viral genotype dependence of the glycosylation level of small Hepatitis B surface protein in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic Hepatitis B. Virol J 2023; 20:159. [PMID: 37468949 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02096-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) consists of six components of large/middle/small HBs proteins (L/M/SHBs) with non-glycosylated (ng)- or glycosylated (g)- isomers at sN146 in their shared S domain. g-SHBs plays a crucial role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) secretion. However, the host and viral factors impacting sN146 status in natural HBV infection remain revealed mainly due to the technical difficulty in quantifying g-SHBs and ng-SHBs in serum samples. METHODS To establish a standardized Western blot (WB) assay (WB-HBs) for quantifying the SHBs isomers in serum samples of 328 untreated hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with genotype B or C HBV infection. The 1.3-mer HBV genotype B or C plasmids were transiently transfected into HepG2 cells for in vitro study. RESULTS The median level of ng-SHBs was significantly higher than that of g-SHBs (N = 328) (2.6 vs. 2.0 log10, P < 0.0001). The median g-/ng-SHBs ratio in female patients (N = 75) was significantly higher than that of male patients (N = 253) (0.35 vs. 0.31, P < 0.01) and the median g-/ng-SHBs ratio in genotype C patients (N = 203) was significantly higher than that of the genotype B patients (N = 125) (0.33 vs. 0.29, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the g-/ng-SHBs ratio is host-sex-biased and viral genotype dependent in treatment naïve patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, which indicates the glycosylation of SHBs could be regulated by both host and viral factors. The change of ratio may reflect the fitness of HBV in patients, which deserves further investigation in a variety of cohorts such as patients with interferon or nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chengyu Zhao
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Xiang Y, Yang Y, Chen P, Lai X, Shi S, Li S, You W. Analysis of serum hepatitis B virus RNA levels among HBsAg and HBsAb copositive patients and its correlation with HBV DNA. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e27433. [PMID: 34622857 PMCID: PMC8500589 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000027433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT There are approximately 2 billion HBV-infected individuals worldwide, and approximately 1.87% to 7% of these individuals are copositive for HBsAg and HBsAb.Our study detected hepatitis B virus pgRNA (HBV RNA) levels in HBsAg and HBsAb copositive patients and then analyzed the correlation with HBV DNA, HBsAg, ALT, and AST levels. A total of 149 HBsAg and HBsAb copositive patients were identified from 66,617 outpatients.HBV RNA, HBV DNA, HBsAg, ALT, and AST serum levels were significantly different in different natural phases of HBV infection (immune tolerance phase, immune clearance phase, low replication phase, and reactivation phase) with statistical significance (P < .01). HBV RNA levels were positively correlated with HBV DNA, HBsAg, ALT, and AST levels. HBV RNA and HBV DNA levels were significantly increased in the HBeAg-positive group (66 patients) compared with the HBeAg-negative group (83 patients) (P < .01). In the HBeAg-positive group, HBV RNA levels were positively correlated with HBV DNA and HBsAg levels. In the HBeAg-negative group, HBV RNA levels were positively correlated with HBV DNA. Serum HBV RNA levels were positively correlated with HBV DNA, HBsAg, ALT, and AST levels.HBV RNA could be used as a virological indicator for antiviral therapy in HBsAg and HBsAb copositive hepatitis B patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pu Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaofei Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shan Shi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenxian You
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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He L, Su M, Ou G, Wang L, Deng J, Zhuang H, Xiang K, Li T. The modulation of HBsAg level by sI126T is affected by additional amino acid substitutions in the S region of HBV. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 75:104006. [PMID: 31442597 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.104006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a vital serum marker for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Amino acid (AA) substitutions in small hepatitis B surface protein (SHBs) are known to affect HBsAg level. However, how the genetic backbones of SHBs sequences would affect the roles of a specific AA substitution on HBsAg level remains unclear. In this study, we found that sI126 had a very high substitution detection rate of 17.54% (40/228) in untreated chronic hepatitis B cohort with subgenotype C2 HBV infection. Among different substitution types at sI126, the sI126T (N = 28) was found to be associated with significantly lower serum HBsAg level. Clone sequencing revealed that sI126T-harboring SHBs sequences had varied genetic backbones with zero to nine additional AA substitutions. Thus, we constructed 24 HBsAg expression plasmids harboring sI126T without (plasmid 1, P1) or with (P2-P24) additional AA substitution(s) and studied them in the HepG2 cells. The HBsAg levels were determined by both ELISA and Western blot. In vitro experiments showed that P1 significantly reduced HBsAg level and its secretion (p < .05), however, P2-P24 showed various extracellular and intracellular HBsAg levels. No significant differences were detected among the HBsAg mRNA levels of nine representative mutant plasmids. Our findings suggest that the modulation of HBsAg level by sI126T is affected by additional AA substitution(s) in the S region of HBV. The effects of AA combination substitutions in SHBs sequences on HBsAg levels are worthwhile for more attentions in terms of HBV biology and its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mingze Su
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Luwei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
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Patel NH, Joshi SS, Lau KCK, Castillo E, Coffin CS. Analysis of serum hepatitis B virus RNA levels in a multiethnic cohort of pregnant chronic hepatitis B carriers. J Clin Virol 2019; 111:42-47. [PMID: 30639847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) flares have been reported due to alterations in the immune system during pregnancy. Recent studies in non-pregnant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers have indicated that serum HBV RNA is a novel viral marker to assess treatment response and risk of disease flares. OBJECTIVES To analyze serum HBV RNA levels in association with established HBV markers in pregnant and/or post-partum CHB carriers. STUDY DESIGN In this prospective cohort study, serum and plasma were collected from 46 pregnant and/or post-partum CHB patients. Clinical data included demographics, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status (Abbott), quantitative hepatitis B s antigen (qHBsAg) levels (Abbott), HBV DNA (Abbott, sensitivity 10 IU/mL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver stiffness measurement (LSM, post-partum), and treatment regime. Serum HBV total RNA and pre-genomic (pg)RNA were quantified using in-house assays, and HBV genotype was determined by direct population sequencing of HBV surface gene. Parametric and non-parametric statistical methods were used for analysis. RESULTS In this study, we found that serum HBV total RNA levels correlated with the HBeAg status, HBV DNA, qHBsAg, ALT, and LSM while serum HBV pgRNA levels did not (p < 0.05, N = 46). Additionally, HBV total RNA & pgRNA levels increased, HBV DNA levels decreased, and qHBsAg levels remained unchanged throughout tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment (N = 2). CONCLUSIONS The associations between serum HBV total RNA with other validated markers indicates it may be a complementary HBV marker to monitor liver disease and HBV replication during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishi H Patel
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Shivali S Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Keith C K Lau
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Eliana Castillo
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carla S Coffin
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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