Droplet digital PCR technique is ultrasensitive for the quantification of covalently closed circular DNA in the blood of chronic HBV-infected patients

Background

Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a stable, episomal form of HBV DNA. cccDNA is a true marker for the intrahepatic events in controlled CHB infection. Quantifying cccDNA is critical for monitoring disease progression, and efficacy of anti-viral therapies.

Methods

To standardize the method, total HBV DNA was isolated from HepAD38 cells and digested with three exonuclease enzymes to remove linear and relaxed circular HBV DNA. Purified cccDNA quantification used ddPCR with specific primers. Treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B virus patients (nCHBV, n=36) with detectable HBV DNA and HBsAg were grouped by HBsAg levels: Group I (HBsAg^lo < 2000 IU/ml, n=11) and Group II (HBsAg^hi > 2000 IU/ml, n=25). cccDNA, HBV DNA and HBsAg were quantified in plasma and compared between groups. Correlation with clinical/histopathological features was done.

Results

Non-digested 3.6^{^}10⁶ tet^-ve HepAD38 cells showed 316 copies/µl of total viral DNA. After digesting the linear, integrated, and relaxed circular DNA with triple enzymes, 15 copies/µl of cccDNA were detected. Similarly, after DNA digestion, HBsAg^lo patients showed a median of 8.5 copies/µl (IQR 2.75-9.75 copies/µl), and HBsAg^hi gave a median of 11 copies/µl (IQR 4-16 copies/µl) but with no significant difference between groups (p=0.093). Further, HBsAg^lo patients with low cccDNA copy numbers showed significantly higher fibrosis grades than HBsAg^hi (p=0.036).

Conclusions

We conclude that employing a combined approach utilizing three exonucleases, cccDNA-specific primers, and ddPCR enables the detection of cccDNA copies even in patients exhibiting low levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA. This integrated method offers additional validation as a surrogate diagnostic tool.