title: Immune suppression gene on HLA-Bw54-DR4-DRw53 haplotype controls nonresponsiveness in humans to hepatitis B surface antigen via CD8+ suppressor T cells.
abstract: The development of antiviral vaccines has been accelerated using monoclonal antibody and/or recombinant DNA techniques, the objective being to prevent grave viral infectious diseases, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver diseases. Certain proportions of individuals in the human population do not have any appreciable immune response to foreign antigens, either in cases of natural exposure or a planned immunization. Here we report that in the nonresponders to HB vaccine, there is an HLA-linked immune suppression gene for hepatitis B surface antigen (Is-HBsAg) controlling the nonresponsiveness to HBsAg through HBsAg-specific suppressor T cells. The Is-HBsAg is in strong linkage disequilibrium with the HLA-Bw54-DR4-DRw53 haplotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamikawaji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasazuki
mesh_terms: D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D059845:HLA-DRB4 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C113783:HLA-B54 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; C050610:HLA-DR53; D059845:HLA-DRB4 Chains; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines