Effects of hepatitis B virus antigens on interferon-gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Although the precise mechanisms of persistent infection by hepatitis B virus are not yet known, several lines of studies suggest that hepatitis B e antigen in sera might modulate the immune response of the host. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of hepatitis B virus antigen on cytokine production of lymphocytes.


METHODS
We studied the effects of recombinant hepatitis B core antigen and surface antigen on interferon-gamma production of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy individuals. Hepatitis B core antigen used in this study shared the antigenic site responsible for hepatitis B core and e antigen.


RESULTS
Although pre-incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with hepatitis B core/e antigen followed by stimulation with phytohemagglutinin significantly reduced the production of interferon-gamma, pre-incubation with hepatitis B surface antigen did not affect them.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that hepatitis B core/e antigen has the ability to inhibit interferon-gamma production of lectin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, suggesting that secretion of hepatitis B e antigen into sera might be how hepatitis B virus escapes the immuno-surveillance system of the host.
Katayama
K
K
First Dept. of Internal Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Takehara
T
T
Kawanishi
Y
Y
Kasahara
A
A
Fusamoto
H
H
Kamada
T
T
D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma