HLA-Bw54-DR4-DRw53-DQw4 haplotype controls nonresponsiveness to hepatitis-B surface antigen via CD8-positive suppressor T cells.

We have previously reported that in nonresponders to hepatitis-B (HB) vaccine there was an HLA-linked immune suppression gene for hepatitis-B surface antigen (Is-HBsAg) controlling the nonresponsiveness to HBsAg, through HBsAg-specific suppressor T cells, and that the Is-HBsAg was in strong linkage disequilibrium with the HLA-Bw54-DR4-DRw53 haplotype (1). We have now done the HLA typing on an additional 6 nonresponders, and using the system of T-cell proliferative response to HBsAg we found that the Is-HBsAg controlled the nonresponsiveness to HBsAg through HBsAg-specific suppressor T cells in nonresponders to HB vaccine who have HLA-Bw54-DR4-DRw53-DQw4 haplotype. T- and B-cell recognition of HB vaccines might play an important role at 3 to 5 weeks after the last immunization. Use of an anti-HLA monoclonal antibody has shown that the HLA-DR molecule plays an important role in helper T-cell proliferation in nonresponders, although the role of HLA-DQ molecule in nonresponders was unclear.