HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

In vitro use of autologous dendritic cells improves detection of T cell responses to hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens.

Abstract
T lymphocyte responses to hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) are vigorous and easily detectable in vitro during recovery from acute hepatitis B but significantly weaker in patients with chronic HBV infection. In contrast, T cell responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are almost undetectable during infection and even in a substantial fraction of subjects receiving vaccination with HBsAg. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of dendritic cells (DCs) in an in vitro assay could increase the detection of HBV-specific T cells in these conditions. Autologous monocyte-derived DCs, compared to direct HBsAg addition to the cultures, increased the stimulation of HBs- specific T cells. These were detected in 73% of healthy subjects who had recently received hepatitis B vaccine and in 43% of patients recovering from acute hepatitis B. Likewise, proliferation in response to DC-presented HBcAg was detected in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from the majority of chronic hepatitis B patients. A longitudinal evaluation of HBc-specific T cell responses during and after a 1-year treatment with pegylated interferon (IFN)-alpha showed that HBc-specific CD4(+) T cell responses had no correlation with sustained virus suppression whereas CD8(+) T cell responses were more frequently detected in patients able to control HBV replication after therapy interruption. The use of autologous DCs as antigen-presenting cells appears applicable to clinically relevant in vitro evaluation of T cell responses, particularly in those conditions characterized by low frequency of circulating antigen-specific cells and suboptimal in vivo activation.
AuthorsPatrizia Carotenuto, Andrè Artsen, Hubert G Niesters, Albert D Osterhaus, Oscar Pontesilli
JournalJournal of medical virology (J Med Virol) Vol. 81 Issue 2 Pg. 332-9 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1096-9071 [Electronic] United States
PMID19107973 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Copyright(c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chemical References
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Topics
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Dendritic Cells (immunology)
  • Hepatitis B Antigens (immunology)
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens (immunology)
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (immunology)
  • Hepatitis B virus (genetics, immunology)
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy, immunology)
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • T-Lymphocytes (immunology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: