Serum proteins in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2b

Figure 1 Serum samples from chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients were run on two-dimensional gels (linear immobilized pH gradients; pH 4-7; 7 cm length). The pictures of the gels show the results before (A) and after (B) treatment using the ProteoPrep Blue Albumin Depletion kit. IgG: Immunoglobulin G; Alb: Albumin.

Figure 2 Serum protein spots from the 2-DE gels were significantly different. A: Sustained responders; B: Non-responders before chronic hepatitis B treatment.

Figure 3 Histograms of the proteomic analysis at different levels. A: Alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein; B: Complement component C3c; C: CD5 antigen-like proteins in sustained responders and non-responders before chronic hepatitis B treatment. The intensity data are presented as mean ± SE (n = 19 gels from all patients and groups). SVR: Sustained virological response; NR: Non-responder.

Figure 4 Validation of proteins associated with the immune response. A: Validation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that there were elevated levels of alpha-HS-glycoprotein in non-responders before chronic hepatitis B treatment. n = 19 gels from all patients and groups; B: Validation by immunonephelometry showed elevated levels of complement component C3c in non-responders before chronic hepatitis B treatment; C: Validation by immunonephelometry showed elevated levels of CD5 antigen-like proteins in non-responders before chronic hepatitis B treatment. SVR: Sustained virological response; NR: Non-responder.