Antigen specific suppressor T cells from chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers inhibit the responsiveness to HBsAg of allogeneic high-responder lymphocytes.
Immunoregulatory mechanisms in chronic HBsAg carriers have been investigated through the study of in vitro proliferative responses to HBsAg by allogeneic coculture experiments between T lymphocytes from HBsAg + chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients (HBsAg no responder) and PBMC from subjects boosted with anti-hepatitis B vaccine (high responder). When high-responder PBMC have been challenged with the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the presence of HBsAg no-responder T lymphocytes, HBsAg no-responder T lymphocytes caused an antigen specific, dose-dependent, suppression of the responsiveness of high-responder PBMC. On the other hand, T cells from patients with autoimmune CAH did not exert any suppressor effect in our system. The suppressor T lymphocytes were mitomycin C resistant and were positive for OKT8, but were negative for OKT4. When T8 + cells were depleted from HBsAg no-responder PBMC, the in vitro immunoproliferative response to HBsAg in chronically HBV infected patients was markedly improved. Out data clearly demonstrate the existence of T8 + suppressor T lymphocytes that can control low responsiveness to HBsAg in chronic HBV patients.
Barnaba
V
V
Levrero
M
M
Franco
A
A
Zaccari
C
C
Musca
A
A
Balsano
F
F
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens