Production of 22 nm HBsAG particles by human lymphocytes infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the coding sequence for hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
To examine the possible role of lymphocytes in the course of hepatitis B virus infection, we studied peripheral blood lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus transformed B-cells for their capability to produce hepatitis B virus gene products. Infection of these cells with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the hepatitis B virus surface antigen resulted in the production and secretion of hepatitis B virus surface antigen shortly after infection reaching a peak after three days. When the supernatants of the cells were analyzed on density gradients, a peak of reactivity for hepatitis B virus surface antigen was reached at 1.21 g/cm3. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of spherical and filamentous HBsAg particles. These findings show that human lymphocytes are capable of producing hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
Theilmann
L
L
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
von Brunn
A
A
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens