agar and Hepatitis-B

Hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) is a trans-activating protein that contributes to liver cancer, in part, by altering the expression of cellular genes. However, few natural effectors of HBxAg have been identified. Hence, HBxAg positive and negative HepG2 cells were prepared and analyzed by PCR select cDNA subtraction. The results identified elevated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 short form splice variant (VEGFR-3(S)) expression in HBxAg positive compared to negative cells. Normally, VEGFR-3 activates Akt signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells, resulting in lymphangiogenesis. In contrast, the results here show that the expression of VEGFR-3(S) is up-regulated in >75% of HBxAg positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules. VEGFR-3(S) up-regulation correlates with the expression of HBxAg, is associated with decreased survival in tumor bearing patients, and when over-expressed in HepG2 cells, strongly stimulated cell growth in culture, in soft agar, and accelerated tumor formation in a ligand independent manner. VEGFR-3(S) siRNA partially blocked the ability of HBxAg to promote hepatocellular growth. In conclusion, HBxAg may short circuit VEGFR-3(S) signaling in liver cancer. Blocking VEGFR-3(S) signaling may be effective in preventing tumor development and/or prolonging survival in tumor bearing patients.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Cloning, Molecular; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Nude; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; RNA, Small Interfering; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators; Up-Regulation; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

The study has revealed that the concentration of HBsAg preparations is simple and easily performed with the use of polyacrylamide, but not dextran gels. Rheophoresis has been shown to be a more sensitive method of indication than countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis. Rheophoresis has been proposed for introduction into medical practice at rural health institutions.

Topics: Acrylic Resins; Agar; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; Dextrans; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Gels; Hemagglutination Tests; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Humans; Rural Health; Serologic Tests

Topics: Agar; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Humans; Immunodiffusion

The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) has been shown to possess distinct subtypes adw, ayw, adr, and ayr). A commercially available solid phase radioimmunoassay for antibody to HBSAg (Ausab, Abbott Laboratories North Chicago, Ill.) has been modified to detect the subtypes of HBSAg as well as the subtype-specific anti-HBS reactivities to detect the subtypes of HBSAg as well as the subtype-specific anti-HBS reactivities (anti-d, anti-y, and anti-w). This method has the advantages of general availability, ease of performance, and increased sensitivity over conventional subtyping methods of agar gel diffusion and counterelectrophoresis.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Blood Donors; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis, Animal; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Indicators and Reagents; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Pan troglodytes; Radioimmunoassay; United States

Topics: Agar; Coloring Agents; Complement Fixation Tests; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Antigens; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Methods; Microchemistry

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Agar; Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Fatty Liver; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Hepatovirus; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Infant; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Regeneration; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors

Topics: Agar; Animals; Chemical Precipitation; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Horses; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Methods

Topics: Agar; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Immunoelectrophoresis; Methods; Staining and Labeling

Topics: Agar; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Immune Sera; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Precipitin Tests; Time Factors; Transfusion Reaction

Topics: Adult; Agar; Antibodies; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Blood Donors; Complement Fixation Tests; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Jaundice; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Transfusion Reaction

A study of the presence of Australia antigen (Au/SH) was conducted over a period of 21 weeks among volunteer plasma donors living in a prison and being monitored for serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT). A good correlation was observed between the level of SGOT and presence of Au/SH, the latter being present in 33% of donors with SGOT values higher than 101 Karmen units and in 12% of those with SGOT values of 41 to 100 units. Furthermore, none of the 87 donors with all SGOT values below 40 was found positive for Au/SH. It should be noted, however, that single specimens only were tested from 72 of the 87 individuals. Au/SH was detected with equivalent efficiency by both agar gel precipitation and complement fixation procedures. Implications of these findings in the prognostication of hepatitis carrier state are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Agar; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Blood Donors; Carrier State; Complement Fixation Tests; Diagnosis, Differential; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Male; Middle Aged; Prisons

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Agar; Age Factors; Alanine Transaminase; Antibodies; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Child; Child, Preschool; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Precipitin Tests

Topics: Adult; Agar; Antibody Formation; Antigens; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Australia; Carrier State; Child; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Time Factors

Topics: Agar; Antibodies; Antigens; Complement Fixation Tests; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Humans; Immunodiffusion

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Agar; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fetal Hemoglobin; Gels; Haptoglobins; Hemoglobins, Abnormal; Hepatitis B; Homozygote; Humans; Jaundice; Male; Reticulocytes; Splenectomy; Splenomegaly; Starch; Thalassemia

Topics: Agar; Antigens; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunodiffusion