Suppressor T-cell activity in chronic hepatitis B-virus infection: relationship with the presence of HBV-DNA in serum.
Suppressor T-cell activity and allogeneic T-cell response to concanavalin A (ConA) were investigated in 46 patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thirty-eight patients had chronic active hepatitis, seven of whom were superinfected with Delta virus, and eight were healthy chronic HBV carriers. T-cell suppressor activity was in the normal range in healthy carriers and in patients negative for serum HBV-DNA, independent of the e antigen status. In contrast, the group of patients positive for HBV-DNA exhibited a significant reduction in suppressor activity. Longitudinal studies in patients who cleared serum HBV-DNA demonstrated that suppressor T-cell activity became normal thereafter. These results suggest a relationship between suppressor T-cell function and the stage of viral replication in individuals with chronic HBV infection.
Iraburu
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Civeira
M P
MP
Serrano
M
M
Morte
S
S
Castilla
A
A
Prieto
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D003208:Concanavalin A