Abstract
Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the significance of circulating antibody to hepatitis B virus X antigen (anti-HBx) in sera remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the titers of anti-HBx (IgG) in the sera from 173 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 106 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 61 HCC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Our data showed that the positive rates of anti-HBx were higher in sera of LC (40.6%) and HCC (34.4%) than those of CHB (10.4%), P < .05. In all 40 patients with anti-HBx+ out of 340 patients, 39 (97.5%) were HBsAg/HBeAg/anti-HBc+ and 1 (2.5%) was anti-HBs+ (P < .01), suggesting that anti-HBx in sera is a marker of HBV replication rather than a protective antibody. Thus, our findings reveal that circulating anti-HBx in sera is one of the markers of development of LC and HCC mediated by HBV.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Animals
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Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
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Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Chi-Square Distribution
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Female
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Hepatitis Antibodies / blood*
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Hepatitis B / blood*
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Hepatitis B / immunology
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Hepatitis B / virology
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Hepatitis B virus / immunology
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Hepatitis B virus / metabolism
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / immunology
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Liver Cirrhosis / blood
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Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
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Liver Cirrhosis / virology*
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Liver Neoplasms / blood
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Liver Neoplasms / immunology
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Liver Neoplasms / virology*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Rabbits
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Trans-Activators / blood*
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / immunology
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Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
Substances
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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Hepatitis Antibodies
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Immunoglobulin G
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Trans-Activators
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Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
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hepatitis B virus X protein