Autopresentation of hepatitis B virus envelope antigens by T cells.
Processing and presentation by T cells appear to be limited to antigens that can directly interact with the T-cell surface, thereby overcoming the T-cell inefficiency in antigen capture and internalization. Our study provides evidence that the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope proteins can also be efficiently processed and presented by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to other T cells in a human leukocyte antigen class II-restricted fashion. This phenomenon suggests a receptor-mediated interaction between T cells and the HBV envelope and defines a system that can, we hope, be exploited for the identification of the receptor binding site within the HBV envelope and for the characterization of the putative cellular HBV receptor.
Ferrari
C
C
Cattedra Malattie Infettive, Università di Parma, Italy.
Pilli
M
M
Penna
A
A
Bertoletti
A
A
Valli
A
A
Cavalli
A
A
Pasetti
G
G
Fiaccadori
F
F
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011991:Receptors, Virus