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Abstract
Katayama K, Hayashi N, Takehara T, Kawanishi Y, Kasahara A, Fusamoto H, Kamada T. Effects of hepatitis B virus antigens on interferon-gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy individuals. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:849-853.
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 lectinstimulated 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.