Intrahepatic hepatitis C virus RNA quantification in microdissected hepatocytes.

Background/aims: Debate continues on whether serum and intrahepatic HCV viral loads are correlated and if HCV viral load correlates with the severity of liver disease. These difficulties may at least in part be linked to liver cell heterogeneity, when total liver extracts from HCV-infected individuals are tested for HCV RNA quantification. We have therefore investigated the feasibility of quantifying HCV replication using a laser-based microdissection technique.

The expression of hepatitis B spliced protein (HBSP) encoded by a spliced hepatitis B virus RNA is associated with viral replication and liver fibrosis.

Background/aims: We have previously demonstrated the in vivo expression of a new spliced hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein (HBSP) encoded by a singly spliced pregenomic RNA. The present study was designed to evaluate the impact of HBSP expression on the clinical status and liver pathology of HBV infection.

Methods: Sera from 125 chronic HBV carriers were tested for the presence of HBSP antibodies by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.