Suppressor T-cell activity in chronic hepatitis B-virus infection: relationship with the presence of HBV-DNA in serum

J Med Virol. 1989 Jan;27(1):39-43. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890270109.

Abstract

Suppressor T-cell activity and allogeneic T-cell response to concanavalin A (ConA) were investigated in 46 patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thirty-eight patients had chronic active hepatitis, seven of whom were superinfected with Delta virus, and eight were healthy chronic HBV carriers. T-cell suppressor activity was in the normal range in healthy carriers and in patients negative for serum HBV-DNA, independent of the e antigen status. In contrast, the group of patients positive for HBV-DNA exhibited a significant reduction in suppressor activity. Longitudinal studies in patients who cleared serum HBV-DNA demonstrated that suppressor T-cell activity became normal thereafter. These results suggest a relationship between suppressor T-cell function and the stage of viral replication in individuals with chronic HBV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carrier State / immunology*
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Concanavalin A
  • DNA Replication
  • DNA, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B / microbiology
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology*
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / immunology*
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Concanavalin A