In vitro immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (Pre-S2 and S) following remote infection by hepatitis B virus in humans.
In this report we evaluate the human immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) following remote infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBsAg-reactive lymphocytes can be readily demonstrated in the peripheral blood of individuals with established immunity following infection with HBV. In vitro stimulation with small doses of plasma-derived HBsAg, yeast-derived HBsAg (S region) or pre-S2 peptide will induce specific IgG to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in the absence of a polyclonal increase in total IgG. The pre-S2 peptide will stimulate, in a T cell-dependent fashion, the in vitro production of anti-HBs with specificity for the S domain. This anti-HBs production is mediated by pre-S2-stimulated soluble T-cell factors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with established immunity proliferate to the yeast-derived HBsAg but not to the plasma-derived HBsAg or pre-S2 peptide. The chronic HBsAg carriers do not produce anti-HBs following stimulation with HBsAg regardless of the source or component of antigen used. Different study protocols failed to demonstrate HBsAg-specific responses in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic carriers.
Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007.
T R
TR
Cupps
J H
JH
Hoofnagle
R W
RW
Ellis
W J
WJ
Miller
L
L
Seeff
A
A
Guerrera
J L
JL
Gerin
S A
SA
Haas-Smith
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012397:Rosette Formation
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007213:Indomethacin