The molecular and cellular basis of long-term T cell memory against viral antigens is still largely undefined. To characterize anti-viral protection by memory T cells against non-cytopathic viruses able to cause acute self-limited and chronic infections, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV), we studied HLA class II restricted responses against HBV structural antigens in 17 patients with acute hepatitis B, during the acute stage of infection and 2.2 to 13 yr after clinical resolution of disease. Results indicate that: (a) significant T cell proliferative responses to HBV nucleocapsid antigens were detectable in all patients during the acute phase of infection and in 14/17 also 2-13 yr after clinical resolution of disease; b) long-lasting T cell responses were sustained by CD45RO+T cells, predominantly expressing the phenotype of recently activated cells; c) limiting dilution analysis showed that in some patients the frequency of HBV-specific T cells was comparable to that observed in the acute stage of infection and, usually, higher than in patients with chronic HBV infection; d) the same amino acid sequences were recognized by T cells in the acute and recovery phases of infection; and e) HBV-DNA was detectable by nested-PCR in approximately half of the subjects. In conclusion, our results show that vigorous anti-viral T cell responses are detectable in vitro several years after clinical recovery from acute hepatitis B. Detection of minute amounts of virus in some recovered subjects suggests that long-term maintenance of an active anti-viral T cell response could be important not only for protection against reinfection but also for keeping the persisting virus under tight control.

Long-lasting memory T cell responses following self-limited acute hepatitis B / A., Penna; Artini, Marco; A., Cavalli; Levrero, Massimo; A., Bertoletti; M., Pilli; F. V., Chisari; B., Rehermann; G., Del Prete; F., Fiaccadori; C., Ferrari. - In: THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 0021-9738. - 98:5(1996), pp. 1185-1194. [10.1172/jci118902]

Long-lasting memory T cell responses following self-limited acute hepatitis B

ARTINI, Marco;LEVRERO, Massimo;
1996

Abstract

The molecular and cellular basis of long-term T cell memory against viral antigens is still largely undefined. To characterize anti-viral protection by memory T cells against non-cytopathic viruses able to cause acute self-limited and chronic infections, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV), we studied HLA class II restricted responses against HBV structural antigens in 17 patients with acute hepatitis B, during the acute stage of infection and 2.2 to 13 yr after clinical resolution of disease. Results indicate that: (a) significant T cell proliferative responses to HBV nucleocapsid antigens were detectable in all patients during the acute phase of infection and in 14/17 also 2-13 yr after clinical resolution of disease; b) long-lasting T cell responses were sustained by CD45RO+T cells, predominantly expressing the phenotype of recently activated cells; c) limiting dilution analysis showed that in some patients the frequency of HBV-specific T cells was comparable to that observed in the acute stage of infection and, usually, higher than in patients with chronic HBV infection; d) the same amino acid sequences were recognized by T cells in the acute and recovery phases of infection; and e) HBV-DNA was detectable by nested-PCR in approximately half of the subjects. In conclusion, our results show that vigorous anti-viral T cell responses are detectable in vitro several years after clinical recovery from acute hepatitis B. Detection of minute amounts of virus in some recovered subjects suggests that long-term maintenance of an active anti-viral T cell response could be important not only for protection against reinfection but also for keeping the persisting virus under tight control.
1996
cytokines; hbv envelope antigens; hbv nucleocapsid antigens; tetanus; toroid; toxoid; viremia
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Long-lasting memory T cell responses following self-limited acute hepatitis B / A., Penna; Artini, Marco; A., Cavalli; Levrero, Massimo; A., Bertoletti; M., Pilli; F. V., Chisari; B., Rehermann; G., Del Prete; F., Fiaccadori; C., Ferrari. - In: THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 0021-9738. - 98:5(1996), pp. 1185-1194. [10.1172/jci118902]
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/438569
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 65
  • Scopus 255
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 238
social impact