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Biomedical subjects

T W Chang

Publications and source records attributed to T W Chang.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

In vitro response to HBsAg of peripheral blood lymphocytes from recipients of hepatitis B vaccine.

Lymphocytes isolated from recipients of hepatitis B vaccine were studied for their immune response to HBsAg in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs) from 70 to 80% of 40 vaccinees yielded proliferative indices larger than 2 after 5 to 7 days incubation with HBsAg. This in vitro proliferative response could be augmented by incubating the cells with HBsAg and supernatants of activated T cells for 2 weeks or longer. After 7 to 10 days, in vitro stimulation with antigen, PBMs (1 X 10(6] could yield 5 to 15 HBsAg-specific antibody-secreting plaque-forming cells. The antibody to HBsAg produced in vitro was greatly increased in cultures that contained antigen-specific B cells enriched by panning with HBsAg-coated plates and a T cell growth factor-dependent, HBsAg-specific autologous T cell line. The results indicate that HBsAg-specific B and T cells are present, although at low frequencies, in the circulation of hepatitis B vaccinees.

Antibody Formation↗

HBsAg-serum protein complexes stimulate immune T lymphocytes more efficiently than do pure HBsAg.

HBsAg from plasma of chronic hepatitis B carriers was purified by affinity chromatography using a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for HBsAg. Elution with buffer at two different pH values separated HBsAg into two fractions: one contained high amounts of immune complexes associated with HBsAg; the other contained larger quantities of the HBsAg polypeptides P24 and GP27 and only small amounts of immunoglobulin. When compared for effects on stimulating the proliferative response of freshly isolated lymphocytes and an HBsAg-specific T cell clone, the HBsAg fraction containing a high proportion of immunoglobulin was much more potent than HBsAg with low amounts of immunoglobulins or pure HBsAg, which was isolated from the culture supernatant of the human hepatoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5). The plasma-derived HBsAg with low amounts of complexed immunoglobulins became more immunogenic in the presence of an anti-HBsAg monoclonal IgG. The present results, combined with earlier findings, suggest that HBsAg associated with immune complexes is a more potent stimulator of T cells than purer HBsAg preparations due to an increase in the efficiency of monocytes to capture the antigen through binding to immune complexes for subsequent processing and presentation of the antigen. These observations could be of relevance for the preparation of effective hepatitis B vaccines from recombinant DNA and peptide synthesis technologies.

Animals↗

Regulation of the human immune response to HBsAg: effects of antibodies and antigen conformation in the stimulation of helper T cells by HBsAg.

The role of accessory cells (antigen-presenting cells) in binding HBsAg in the response of human T cells to this antigen was studied. Antibodies to HBsAg of IgG class increased significantly the amount of HBsAg that was captured and internalized by accessory cells in vitro. On the other hand, antibodies to HBsAg of IgM class or the F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of antibodies to HBsAg of IgG class did not modify the amount of HBsAg associated to these cells. HBsAg that was subjected to various denaturing treatments (acid, organic solvents, urea and heat) was compared for its capacity to react with antibody to HBsAg and stimulate the response of helper T lymphocytes. Results presented here indicate that HBsAg denatured by treatment with formic acid was captured by accessory cells and presented to the T cells much more efficiently than the native HBsAg. These results suggest that the response of helper T lymphocytes to some antigens such as HBsAg can be affected greatly by the presence of antibodies or the antigens' conformation.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗