Immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to HBx‐antigen of hepatitis B virus

The hepatitis B virus genome encodes a transcriptional transactivator protein designated HBxAg. We have investigated whether this antigen is a target structure for human T‐lymphocytes. Using recombinant HBxAg protein, we found HBxAg‐specific stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with acute hepatitis B virus infection (6 of 6) and chronic hepatitis B virus infection (6 of 17) but not in healthy individuals. With HBxAg‐specific synthetic polypeptides, several T‐cell epitopes were identified. Most were located in the carboxyterminal half of the HBxAg protein. Five T‐cell clones specific for a T‐cell epitope located at the carboxyterminal region of HBxAg were established and found to belong to the CD2/CD4‐positive, CD8‐negative subtype. These data establish for the first time HBxAg as an antigen in the cellular immune response. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;13:63–643.)

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