Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Mutations Are Concentrated in B Cell Epitopes in Progressive Disease and in T Helper Cell Epitopes during Clinical Remission

The distribution and temporal and clinical features of amino acid substitutions of the core protein of hepatitis B (HB) virus were analyzed, using at least 2 sequential samples from 27 patients. Six patients seroconverted from HBe antigen (HBeAg)—positive to anti-HBe—positive (3 went into remission), and 21 were continuously anti-HBe positive with progressive hepatitis. Precore mutations, which terminate HBeAg translation, all appeared by the second sample. Most core mutations occurred between the first and second samples; significantly fewer occurred after the second. In seroconverters who went into remission, mutations occurred in the T helper epitope from aa 50 to 69 (P = .00045); for anti-HBe—positive patients with ongoing disease, mutations occurred in B cell epitopes (P = .0007 for aa 74–83). An ineffective anti-HBc B cell response accounts for ongoing disease and selection of mutations after seroconversion. In those who remit, mutations in the major T helper epitope allow immune escape, thus minimizing immune-mediated hepatitis.