Abstract
Cell-free RNA of a different origin is known to circulate in the blood (1–3). This finding has also been reported for RNA specified by viruses with a DNA genome, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV)(4). In the infected cell, genomic and subgenomic HBV-RNA molecules are synthesized from episomal genomes. Within virions, only the (−) strands of the genomes (3.2 kb) are complete, whereas the (+) strands are incomplete. The genomes replicate via the reverse transcription of genomic RNA intermediates. These pregenomes are packaged into nucleocapsids and degraded during the synthesis of the DNA (−) strand (5). Upon completion of (−) strand DNA synthesis, the capsids mature into the enveloped virions (Dane particles), which are found in the sera of infected individuals (6). Subgenomic viral transcript RNAs do exist but are not packaged into nucleocapsids (5). Based on these observations, there should be no replication-related release of HBV-RNA from hepatocytes into the blood. However, damage to liver cells may discharge viral RNA contained in nucleocapsids or as free forms.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Kamm, R. C., and Smith, A. G. (1972) Nucleic acid concentrations in normal human plasma. Clin. Chem. 18, 519–522.
Kopreski, M. S., Benko, F. A., Kwak, L.W., and Gocke, C.D. (1999) Detection of tumor messenger mRNA in the serum patients with malignant melanoma. Clin. Cancer Res. 5, 1961–1965.
Chen, X. Q., Bonnefoi, H., Pelte, M. F., et al. (2000) RNA telomerase as a detection marker in the serum of breast cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res. 6, 3823–3826.
Su, Q., Wang, S.-F., Chang, T.-E., et al. (2001) Circulating hepatitis B virus nucleic acids in chronic infection: representation of differently polyadenylated viral transcripts during progression to nonreplicative stages. Clin. Cancer Res., 7, 2005–2015.
Nassal, M., and Schaller, H. (1996) Hepatitis B replication—an update. J. Viral Hepat. 3, 217–226.
Gerelsaikhan, T., Tavis, J. E., and Bruss, V. (1996) Hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid development does not occur without genomic DNA synthesis. J. Virol. 70, 4269–4274.
Köck, J., Theilmann, L., Galle, P., and Schlicht, H.-J. (1996) Hepatitis B virus nucleic acids associated with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells do not originate from replicating virus. Hepatology 23, 405–413.
Kairat, A., Beerheide, W., Zhou, G., Tang, Z.-Y., Edler, L., and Schröder, C. H. (1999) Truncated hepatitis B virus RNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma: its representation in patients with advancing age. Intervirology 42, 228–237.
Schutz, T., Kairat, A., and Schröder, C.H. (2000) Anchored oligo(dT) primed RT/PCR: identification and quantification of related transcripts with distinct 3′-ends. J. Virol. Methods 86, 167–171.
Loncarevic, I. F., Zentgraf, H., and Schröder, C. H. (1990) Sequence of a replication competent hepatitis B virus genome with a preX open reading frame. Nucl. Acids Res. 18, 4940.
Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., and Maniatis, T. (eds.) (1990) Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, NY, 9.31–9.62.
Hilger, C., Velhagen, I., Zentgraf, H., and Schröder, C. H. (1991) Diversity of hepatitis B virus X gene-related transcripts in hepatocellular carcinoma: a novel polyadenylation site on viral DNA. J. Virol. 65, 4284–4291.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Zhang, W., Hacker, H.J., Mildenberger, M., Su, Q., Schröder, C.H. (2004). Detection of HBV RNA in Serum of Patients. In: Hamatake, R.K., Lau, J.Y.N. (eds) Hepatitis B and D Protocols. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 95. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-669-X:29
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-669-X:29
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-105-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-669-0
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols