Regulation of the Immune Response to Hepatitis B Virus and Human Serum Albumin |
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| Authors: | U. HELLSTRö M,S. SYLVAN |
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| Affiliation: | Departments of Immunology, Stockholm University, and of Infectious Diseases, The Elias Bengtsson Research Unit, Kamlinska Institute, Roslagstull Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | The circulatory pool of B cells, from donors immune lo hepatitis B (HB) through natural infection, contained sensitized B cells with the capacity to secrete antibodies with specificity for human serum albumin (USA) when stimulated with purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in vitro The immunoglobulin secretion was dependent upon and regulated by T cells and specifically induced, since it was not obtained in cell cultures from HB-susceptible donors. Culture supernatants with anti-USA reactivity also contained specific antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs). indicating that the outer coat of HBV normally provokes an immune response to both the viral antigen and a self component. Perturbation in the regulation of the immune response triggered by USA in association with HBV/HBsAg particles may involve a putative risk for development of chronic HBsAg carriership. |
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