Immunologic mechanisms in hepatitis B assayed by antigen-binding lymphocytes

Immune mechanisms in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were investigated in 16 persons with and without hepatitis using tests for HBS Ag, anti-HBS, anti-HBC and 125I-labeled HBS Ag binding lymphocytes (ABL) in peripheral blood. Anti-HBC, which is an evidence of a recent or current HBV infection, was detected in all HBS Ag positive sera. High counts of ABL correlated with the presence of anti-HBS in serum but not with anti-HBC or with HBS Ag. In patients with chronic hepatitis, and in asymptomatic carriers of HBS Ag, there was a trend towards low counts of ABL, which may represent partial tolerance ot HBS Ag in carriers of this particle. Further work on ABL for HBS Ag and HBC Ag should enhance our understnading of immunologic responses to the antigens of the hepatitis B virus.