title: Immune mechanisms and the action of interferon in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes can eliminate cells infected with hepatitis B virus. A defect of T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis seems to exist in chronic hepatitis B infection. T cell-mediated lysis is dependent on HLA antigens of the infected host and this may explain the increased or decreased frequency of particular HLA antigens in chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus. This virus may decrease the concentration of HLA antigens expressed on liver cells. Interferon increases the HLA antigen expression on T lymphocytes and hepatocytes, thereby enhancing T lymphocyte-mediate lysis of infected liver cells and elimination of the hepatitis B virus.
mesh_terms: D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007372:Interferons