Suppression of hepatitis B antibody synthesis by factor made by T cells from chronic hepatitis B carriers.
Mononuclear cells taken from subjects who had been immunised with hepatitis B vaccine could be stimulated by pokeweed mitogen plus hepatitis B surface antigen to synthesise antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in vitro. Such synthesis was suppressed by supernatants of cultures of T cells from hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. The suppressor activity of this soluble factor in the supernatants was specific for anti-HBs since it did not affect production of polyclonal immunoglobulins or specific antibody to tetanus toxoid and since its effect was completely absorbed by a hepatitis B surface antigen column. The suppressor factor was made by T-cell cultures but not by non-T-cell cultures. T-cells for 13 out of 15 carriers produced this factor.
D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic