Modulation of hepatitis B infection by intravenous application of an immunoglobulin preparation that contains antibodies to hepatitis B e and core antigens but not to hepatitis B surface antigen.
Repeated administration of an intravenous immunoglobulin containing antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) but free of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) before and after the inoculation of 10(4.9) 50% chimpanzee infective doses of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markedly prolonged the incubation period of HBV in experimentally infected chimpanzees. Similar administration of an immunoglobulin preparation containing anti-HBc but free of anti-HBe and anti-HBs or intramuscular administration of a single dose of immunoglobulin containing anti-HBe and anti-HBc 3 days before or after inoculation with HBV did not appear to modulate HBV infection. These observations suggested that anti-HBe, or an unidentified antibody associated with it, may have biological activity in the modulation of HBV replication.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D002679:Pan troglodytes
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins