HBsAg-induced antigen-specific T and B lymphocyte responses in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers and immune individuals.

This report describes a study of in vitro proliferative and antibody responses to the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) of lymphocytes from chronic HBsAg carriers, subjects with naturally acquired immunity, and responders to the hepatitis B vaccine. Peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes were cultured with a wide range of concentrations of HBsAg (0.025-250 ng/ml). We were unable to detect HBsAg-specific proliferation or antibody synthesis in any of the subject groups studied, despite the use of a range of antigen concentrations, cell ratios and culture periods. The addition of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) or T cell growth factor at either initiation or day 3 of culture enhanced proliferative responses, but in an antigen-independent manner. In contrast to the proliferation observed following the addition of IL-2, the absence of responses to specific antigen suggest there may be low numbers of HBsAg-specific precursors in the peripheral blood.