title: Impaired response to HBcAg in a hepatitis B virus carrier.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers usually produce antibody to HB core antigen (anti-HBc). We present the case of an HBV carrier who has lacked anti-HBc for a 2-year observation period. Antibody titers against several common viruses (herpes simplex virus-1, varizella-zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus) were detected in his serum. His lymphocytes proliferated in vitro in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. In contrast to other naturally immune or chronic HBV carriers, anti-HBc was not produced by his peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture supernatant of pokeweed mitogen-induced anti-HBc production system. These results suggested that he was in a state of impaired specific antibody response to HB core antigen (HBcAg).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Motoyoshi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terasawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orii
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins