title: Selective killing of hepatitis B envelope antigen-specific B cells by class I-restricted, exogenous antigen-specific T lymphocytes.
abstract: Specific B lymphocytes can act as very efficient antigen-presenting cells. They bind antigen with high affinity via their immunoglobulin receptors, process it through the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) pathway, and present its fragments to class II-restricted T lymphocytes. In general, exogenous antigens and noninfectious viral particles enter the class II pathway and are selectively associated with class II MHC molecules. The presentation of an exogenous antigen in association with class I molecules has been reported for only a few antigens, including the hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBenvAg). Here we demonstrate that antigen-specific B cells can efficiently deliver HBenvAg to the class I pathway, presenting its fragments to class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which kill the specific B cells. This could represent a mechanism of suppression of neutralizing anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibody response, a phenomenon that accompanies the development of the chronic HBV-carrier state.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barnaba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benvenuto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balsano
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins