title: Induction of T-helper cell response to hepatitis B core antigen in chronic hepatitis B: a major factor in activation of the host immune response to the hepatitis B virus.
abstract: The T helper (Th) cell response to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was analyzed in 76 chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with varying degrees of hepatic inflammation and HBV replication. Fifty-five patients had active viral replication, 28 with minimal histological changes and normal alanine transaminase (ALT) and 27 with active hepatic inflammation and elevated ALT. The remaining 21 chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers had undetectable HBV replication, minimal histological activity, and normal ALT. In addition, 34 chronic HBV carriers were studied prospectively during treatment with alpha-interferon. The HBcAg-specific Th cell response was evaluated by a proliferative assay using 3H-thymidine uptake and gamma-interferon production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The proliferative response and gamma-interferon production of patients with active hepatic inflammation were significantly higher than in patients with minimal histological changes and in controls. In the longitudinal analysis during alpha-interferon treatment, 22 of 34 patients sustained an ALT flare accompanied by a parallel, significant Th cell response, which preceded or coincided with the ALT flare. The elevation in the Th cell response and the ALT flare were followed by a significant rise in the serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M anti-HBc index. Ten of twenty-two patients with an enhanced Th cell response and an ALT flare seroconverted after alpha-interferon treatment. The Th cell activity in the 10 responders rapidly subsided after hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to anti-HBe seroconversion, whereas in the 12 nonresponders it remained elevated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Studies, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chokshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Eddleston
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Naoumov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000410:Alanine Transaminase