Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responsiveness after resolution of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responsiveness after resolution of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

J Clin Invest. 1996 Apr 1;97(7):1655-65. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96181566
Rehermann B; Lau D; Hoofnagle JH; Chisari FV; Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps; Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA.

Abstract: Clearance of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) during acute hepatitis is associated with a strong, polyclonal, multispecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to the viral envelope, nucleocapsid and polymerase proteins that persists for decades after clinical recovery. In contrast, chronically infected patients usually fail to mount a strong CTL response to this virus. In this study we demonstrate that chronically infected patients who experience a spontaneous or interferon-induced remission develop a CTL response to HBV that is similar in strength and specificity to patients who have recovered from acute hepatitis. The results suggest that specific immunotherapeutic enhancement of the CTL response to HBV should be possible in chronically infected patients, and that it could lead to viral clearance in these individuals with resolution of chronic liver disease.

Keywords: Acute Disease Adult Aged Alanine Aminotransferase/BLOOD Base Sequence Case-Control Studies CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY DNA Primers/GENETICS DNA, Viral/BLOOD/GENETICS Female Hepatitis B/*IMMUNOLOGY/THERAPY/VIROLOGY Hepatitis B e Antigens/BLOOD Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/BLOOD Hepatitis B Virus/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY/ISOLATION & PURIF Hepatitis, Chronic Active/*IMMUNOLOGY/THERAPY/VIROLOGY Human In Vitro Interferon Alfa, Recombinant/THERAPEUTIC USE Male Middle Age Molecular Sequence Data Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/*IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
960730
M9670451

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