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The relationship between the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells and the pathological manifestations of the liver in 429 HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected individuals

  • Fan Nie1,
  • Chang-Chun Zeng2,
  • Guang-Dong Tong3,
  • Mu-Min Shao4,
  • Xiao-Hua Le5,
  • Xin Deng6 and
  • Da-Qiao Zhou3,*
 Author information 

Abstract

Background

The natural history of chronic HBV infection is typically characterized by four stages: the immune tolerance period, the immune clearance period, the immune control period, and the immune escape period. These stages are associated with the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells; however, this relationship remains a topic of broad debate within the field of liver disease. To objectively and quantitatively measure the intracellular distribution of HBcAg, this paper aims to design a method referred to as the "layered evaluation method" and to examine its validation.

Methods

The distribution of HBcAg in liver cells is assessed using Image Pro Plus image processing software, along with calculations of cytoplasmic and nuclear positive staining rates.

Results

The findings indicate that the highest proportion of patients exhibited a positive cytoplasmic expression rate ranging from 0-2.5%. More than 40% of the total sample was categorized within the 0-2.5% positive nuclear expression range. The HBcAg cytoplasmic positive staining rates were classified into five levels: a cytoplasmic HBcAg positive staining rate of less than 0.05% is designated as level 0, indicating negative expression; a staining rate between 0.05% and 5% is classified as level 1; a rate from 5% to less than 10% is classified as level 2; a rate from 10% to less than 20% is classified as level 3; and a nuclear positivity rate exceeding 20% is classified as level 4.

Conclusion

The inflammatory activity grade in these patients was positively correlated with the cytoplasmic distribution of HBcAg. Furthermore, the nuclear distribution rate of HBcAg was significantly higher in the G3 group compared to the other groups.

Keywords

distribution of HBcAg, pathological manifestations of the liver, positive staining rate

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Cite this article
Nie F, Zeng CC, Tong GD, Shao MM, Le XH, Deng X, et al. The relationship between the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells and the pathological manifestations of the liver in 429 HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected individuals. Gastroenterol & Hepatol Res. 2024;6(3):11. doi: 10.53388/ghr2024011.
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Article History
Received Revised Accepted Published
September 30, 2024
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.53388/ghr2024011
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology Research
  • eISSN 2703-173X
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The relationship between the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells and the pathological manifestations of the liver in 429 HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected individuals

Fan Nie, Chang-Chun Zeng, Guang-Dong Tong, Mu-Min Shao, Xiao-Hua Le, Xin Deng, Da-Qiao Zhou
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