title: HBV-specific T-cell responses in healthy seronegative sexual partners of patients with chronic HBV infection.
abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is frequently transmitted by sexual intercourse. Thus, HBV-guidelines recommend vaccination. However, we have identified healthy hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HBc-negative unvaccinated sexual partners of patients with chronic hepatitis B. We investigated whether HBV-specific cellular immune responses were present that could explain the apparent protection against HBV infection. In six anti-HBc-negative HBV-exposed sexual partners, HBV-specific T-cell responses were studied by proliferation assay and cytometric bead array after stimulation with 74 overlapping peptides spanning the HBV core, pre-S and S-encoding regions. Eleven HBV-unexposed individuals served as negative controls. HBV-DNA was undetectable in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in all cases. HBV-specific cytokine secretion was observed in 4/6 seronegative partners, but only in 1/11 controls. Proliferative responses were detectable in 5/6 partners and 0/11 controls. HBV-specific cytokine secretion exists in healthy seronegative virus-exposed individuals. HBV core-directed immune responses indicate past, but controlled viral replication. T-cell immunity may prevent clinical manifestation of HBV infection in the absence of humoral immunity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meya
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schlaphoff
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mössner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tillmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens