title: Cytotoxic T-cell responses to the nucleocapsid proteins of HBV in chronic hepatitis. Evidence that antibody modulation may cause protracted infection.
abstract: The nucleocapsid antigens (HBc and HBe) are present on the membranes of HBV-infected hepatocytes from HBV carriers. In autologous cytotoxicity experiments we demonstrate that cytotoxic T cells sensitised to the nucleocapsid proteins of hepatitis B are present in HBe antigen-positive HBV carriers with chronic hepatitis and can be blocked by monoclonal anti-HBc and anti-HBe. Passive immunisation of chimpanzees with monoclonal anti-HBc and anti-HBe offers no protection against HBV infection but in both cases leads to an unusually prolonged hepatitis probably by modulation of HBc and HBe antigen display on the hepatocytes. High-titre anti-HBc in the circulation of HBe antigen-positive patients probably modulates the former protein making HBe the important target antigen for cytotoxic T cells mediating liver damage in chronic carriers. These data also support the hypothesis that passive transfer of IgG anti-HBc across the placenta may be one major factor promoting development of persistent infection in neonates infected from carrier mothers.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens