Publication

Virus-specific lymphokine production differs quantitatively but not qualitatively in acute and chronic hepatitis B infection

Journal Paper/Review - Sep 1, 1999

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Jung M, Wächtler M, Santantonio T, Hoffmann R, Zachoval R, Grüner N, Schraut W, Gruber R, Diepolder H, Gerlach T, Hartmann B, Pape G. Virus-specific lymphokine production differs quantitatively but not qualitatively in acute and chronic hepatitis B infection. Virology 1999; 261:165-72.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Virology 1999; 261
Publication Date
Sep 1, 1999
Issn Print
0042-6822
Pages
165-72
Brief description/objective

Cytokines that are secreted as a response to viral antigen not only have direct antiviral properties but also crucially influence immune reactions determining the outcome of infection. As an advantageous alternative to the study of cytokines present in the supernatants of antigen-specific T cell clones and lines, we have used ELISPOT assays to determine the number of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)- and IL4-producing cells generated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in response to HBcAg in a short-term culture (48 h). In response to HBcAg IFN-gamma was predominantly produced. In contrast to the results obtained in acute hepatitis B, the typical lymphokine pattern in CHB was characterized by a weak or absent antigen-specific IFN-gamma production. A predominance of IL-4-producing cells was not observed in either AHB or CHB. A significant number of IFN-gamma-producing cells was usually detectable during phases of viral elimination and the quality of the lymphokine response seemed to be epitope independent. Comparison of the results obtained in proliferation assays and ELISPOT assays clearly shows that lymphokine production upon stimulation with viral protein is totally independent of T cell proliferation and more sensitively reflects antiviral reactivity.