title: In vitro response to HBsAg of peripheral blood lymphocytes from recipients of hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: Lymphocytes isolated from recipients of hepatitis B vaccine were studied for their immune response to HBsAg in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs) from 70 to 80% of 40 vaccinees yielded proliferative indices larger than 2 after 5 to 7 days incubation with HBsAg. This in vitro proliferative response could be augmented by incubating the cells with HBsAg and supernatants of activated T cells for 2 weeks or longer. After 7 to 10 days, in vitro stimulation with antigen, PBMs (1 X 10(6] could yield 5 to 15 HBsAg-specific antibody-secreting plaque-forming cells. The antibody to HBsAg produced in vitro was greatly increased in cultures that contained antigen-specific B cells enriched by panning with HBsAg-coated plates and a T cell growth factor-dependent, HBsAg-specific autologous T cell line. The results indicate that HBsAg-specific B and T cells are present, although at low frequencies, in the circulation of hepatitis B vaccinees.
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines