Quantification of Viral RNA in Multiple Pieces of Explant Liver Tissue Shows Distinct Focal Differences in Hepatitis B Infection

Gustaf E Rydell; Kasthuri Prakash; Simon B Larsson; Catarina Skoglund; Johan Ringlander; Maria E Andersson; Maria Castedal; Heléne Norder; Magnus Lindh

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiab469

Quantification of Viral RNA in Multiple Pieces of Explant Liver Tissue Shows Distinct Focal Differences in Hepatitis B Infection

J Infect Dis. 2022 Sep 21;226(6):1036-1040. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab469.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
² The Transplant Institute, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ The Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and RNA were quantified by digital PCR assays in 20-30 tissue pieces from each of 4 liver explants with cirrhosis caused by HBV. The within-patient variability of HBV RNA levels between pieces was up to a 1000-fold. Core RNA and S RNA levels were similar and correlated strongly when replication was high, supporting that transcription was from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). By contrast, enhanced expression of S RNA relative to cccDNA and core RNA in patients with medium-high or low replication supports that HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) can be expressed mainly from integrated HBV DNA in such patients.

Keywords: HBsAg; cirrhosis; droplet digital PCR; hepatitis B virus; hepatocellular carcinoma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antigens, Surface
DNA, Circular / genetics
DNA, Viral / analysis
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / metabolism
Hepatitis B virus / genetics
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Humans
Liver
RNA, Viral / analysis

Substances

Antigens, Surface
DNA, Circular
DNA, Viral
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
RNA, Viral