大剂量国产胸腺肽联合干扰素治疗慢性乙肝疗效及其机理初探

本文研究大剂量胸腺肽联合干扰素对慢性乙肝患者的治疗作用,发现胸腺肽联合干扰素治疗三个月后,患者的ＡＬＴ复常率、ＨＢｅＡｇ转阴率、ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阴转率和ＨＢＶＤＮＡ有效下降率分别为７６０％、４４０％、５６０％和９６０％。Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群分析结果表明,联合治疗后,患者外周血ＣＤ４＋淋巴细胞亚群上调,ＣＤ８＋亚群下调,二者比值趋于正常,说明国产胸腺肽联合干扰素治疗慢性乙肝的治疗机理与免疫调节作用有关。     

治疗性乙肝疫苗研究及疗效考核

我们采用治疗性乙肝疫苗（免疫复合物型和佐剂型）分别对１４５例各型乙型肝炎进行治疗,结果显示：乙肝主要指标ＡＬＴ复常率、ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ及ＨＢｅＡｇ阴转率,免疫复合物组分别为９２．９％、５０％和４１．９％;佐剂组分别为９４．１％、４２．８％和３５．２％,均明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。Ｔ细胞亚群中ＣＤ＋４／ＣＤ＋８细胞平均比值明显提高。试验表明：免疫复合物型疫苗和佐剂型疫苗对慢性肝炎,尤其是慢性活动性肝炎有较好疗效,而免疫复合物型优于佐剂型。本制剂无毒副作用,为生物制剂治疗乙型肝炎开辟了一条新途径     

病毒性肝炎HAV，HBV，HCV，HDV和HEV重叠感染的研究

采用ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测了１０８例乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）感染者血清中的五种肝炎病毒──甲型（ＨＡＶ）、乙型（ＨＢＶ）、丙型（ＨＣＶ）、丁型（ＨＤＶ）和成型（ＨＥＶ）肝炎病毒的标志物,并采用ＰＣＲ技术检测了患者血清ＨＢＶＤＮＡ、ＨＣＶＲＮＡ及ＨＤＶＲＮＡ。结果五种肝炎病毒重叠感染者３５例（３２．４％）,单纯ＨＢＶ感染者７３例（６７．６％）。ＨＢＶ、ＨＡＶＭ重感染率为４．６％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＣＶ二重感染率为９．２％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＤＶＭ重感染率为１４．８％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＥＶ二重感染率为１．９％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＣＶ和ＨＤＶ三重感     

乙型肝炎病人重叠感染丙型肝炎的评价

应用ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＰＣＲ法检测５０２例乙肝病人血清,４０１例ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性血清中,有１１４例（２８．４％）抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ双项阳性,２５例（６．２％）ＨＣＶＲＮＡ单项阳性;２１例（５．２％）抗－ＨＣＶ单项阳性。将ＨＢｓＡｇ乙肝病人分成ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性组和ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性组。前者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为１１．６％～２０．５％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为１６．２％～２０．５％。后者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为２０．２％～５５．６％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为２３％～６０．３％。结果说明长期携带ＨＢＶ者和慢性乙肝病人均可重叠ＨＣＶ感染。ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率明显高于ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组     

HBsAg携带者重叠感染HCV、HDV的血清学调查

对３６２名无症状高滴度ＨＢｓＡｇ携带者用ＲＩＡ法检测ＨＢｅＡｇ、Ａｎｔｉ－ＨＢｅ、Ａｎｔｉ－ＨＣＶ、Ａｎｔｉ－ＨＤＶ。结果表明,ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性率随ＨＢｓＡｇ滴度的增高而增加,且有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。重叠感染以ＨＢＶ＋ＨＣＶ最高,占２７．６％;其次是ＨＢＶ＋ＨＤＶ,占９．１％;ＨＢＶ＋ＨＣＶ＋ＨＤＶ最少,占６．４％。但是,以上重叠感染率均与ＨＢｓＡｇ滴度及／或ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性率高低无关（Ｐ＞０．０５）。调查显示,无症状ＨＢｓＡｇ携带者中ＨＢＶ＋ＨＣＶ,或ＨＢＶ＋ＨＤＶ,或ＨＢＶ＋ＨＣＶ＋ＨＤＶ的重叠感染均可发生。     

两例丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)和乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)重叠感染者的HCV核心区cDNA序列分析

从临床肝病患者中选择两例ＨＣＶ和ＨＢＶ重叠感染者ＨＳＱ和ＳＺＨ,他们血清中的生化指标丙氨酸转氨酶（ＡＬＴ）持续异常,肝活检病理示有严重的肝损伤。在ＡＬＴ异常期,血清学检测结果为ＨＢｓＡｇ、ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性,抗ＨＣＶＩｇＧ（包括Ｃ２２、Ｃ３３ｃ）阴性,但套式ＰＣＲ检测ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性,核心区ｃＤＮＡ序列分析发现该区有１个密码子（ＧＧＣｎｔ３８５—３８７）缺失,对应缺失的氨基酸是甘氨酸（ＧＬＹ）,从血清学检测和序列分析结果推测,在ＨＣＶ和ＨＢＶ重叠感染中,ＨＢＶ和ＨＣＶ均可处于持续复制状态,抗ＨＣＶＩｇＧ抗体阴性可能是ＨＣＶ的多蛋白前体翻译和病毒颗粒装配受到ＨＢＶ干扰的结果。     

双歧杆菌活菌制剂对慢性乙肝病人细胞免疫功能影响的观察

在应用双歧杆菌活菌制剂治疗慢乙肝期间,重点观察了Ｔ细胞亚群（ＣＤ３,ＣＤ４,ＣＤ８）、ＮＫ细胞（ＣＤ（１６））、白细胞介素Ⅱ（ＩＬ－２）分泌细胞、肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）等细胞免疫指标治疗前后的动态变化,同时观察了病人血内毒素水平的动态变化和乙肝病毒标志物（ＨＢＶＭ）的改变。结果表明：（１）与对照组比较,双歧杆菌活菌制剂可使慢乙肝病人ＣＤ３＋,ＣＤ４＋数目明显增多,而对ＣＤ８＋细胞数目无明显影响;（２）双歧杆菌活菌制剂可使ＣＡＨ组的ＣＤ１６＋细胞显著增多（ｐ＜０．０５）;使ＣＡＨ组和ＣＰＨ组的ＩＬ－２分泌细胞均有非常显著和显著增加（分别ｐ＜０．０１和ｐ＜０．０５）;（３）ＣＡＨ组病人血中内毒素和ＴＮＦ水平在双歧杆菌活菌制剂治疗后,匀出现非常显著降低（ｐ＜０．０１）;ＣＰＨ组ＴＮＦ水平较对照组无显著变化,但内毒素水平较对照组显著降低（ｐ＜０．０５）;（４）满疗程后（６０天）ＣＡＨ组有６例,ＣＰＨ组有５例ＨＢｅＡｇ阴转（分别为２６．０６％和２５．０％）,而对照组仅２例阴转（１３．３３％）,两治疗组与对照组比较有显著性差异（ｐ＜０．０５）。     

人原发性肝细胞肝癌中丙型肝炎病毒C_（33c）抗原及HBxAg的分布及意义

作者应用抗ＨＣＶＮＳ３区Ｃ３３ｃ抗原２Ｂ６株单克隆抗体和抗ＨＢｘＡｇ多克隆抗体,采用ＡＢＣ法对１０２例人原发性肝细胞肝癌（ＰＨＣ）组织进行了ＨＣＶ及ＨＢＶ抗原定位研究。ＨＣＶＣ３。抗原及ＨＢｘＡｇ在ＰＨＣ中的阳性检出率分别是８１．４％及７４．５％,Ｃ３３ｃ抗原或ＨＢｘＡｇ阳性占所检病例９４．１％,相同病例二者同时阳性为６１．８％。１０２例ＰＨＣ中５０例有癌旁肝组织,其Ｃ３３ｃ抗原和ＨＢｘＡｇ的阳性检出率分别是６２％和９２％。ＨＣＶＣ３３ｃ抗原定位于肝癌细胞的胞浆内,胞核未见阳性信号。Ｃ３３ｃ抗原阳性细胞在ＰＨＣ中呈散在、局灶分布为主,在癌旁肝组织呈弥漫分布为主。本文结果提示ＨＣＶ感染在ＰＨＣ的发生中可能起重要作用。     

肝硬变中丙型肝炎病毒C33c抗原及HBxAg的分布及意义

应用抗ＨＣＶＣ３３ｃ抗原２Ｂ６株单克隆抗体和抗ＨＢｘＡｇ多克隆抗体。以ＡＢＣ法对８６例肝硬变组织进行ＨＣＶ及ＨＢＶ相关抗原定位研究,ＨＣＶＣ３３ｃ抗原及ＨＢｘＡｇ在肝硬变中的阳性率分别为７６．７％及６２．８％,Ｃ３３ｃ抗原和ＨＢｘＡｇ阳性占所检病例８８．４％,二者同时阳性为５１．２％,ＨＣＶＣ３３ｃ抗原位于肝硬变组织的肝细胞胞桨内,充满整个胞桨,细胞核及胸膜未见阳性;阳性细胞呈弥温、局灶及散在分布     

乙型肝炎患者HBV复制水平的定量PCR研究

本文采用定量ＰＣＲ方法观察了慢性乙型肝炎患者ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ的复制水平。结果表明在ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性患者血清ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检出率和水平显著高于ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性患者（Ｐ＜０．０１）;血清ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ水平的高低与ＡＬＴ异常情况未发现有相关性。     

Cellular immune responses to the hepatitis B virus polymerase

CD4 T cells play an important role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by secretion of Th1 cytokines that down-regulate HBV replication, and by promoting CD8 T cell and B cell responses. We have identified and characterized 10 CD4 T cell epitopes within polymerase and used them to analyze the immunological effects of long-term antiviral therapy as compared with spontaneous recovery from HBV infection. Candidate epitopes were tested for binding to 14 HLA-DR molecules and in IFN-gamma ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays using peripheral blood lymphocytes from 66 HBV-infected patients and 16 uninfected controls. All 10 epitopes bound with high affinity to the most prevalent HLA-DR Ags, were conserved among HBV genomes, and induced IFN-gamma responses from HBV-specific CD4+ T cells. Several epitopes contained nested MHC class I motifs and stimulated HBV-specific IFN-gamma production and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. HBV polymerase-specific responses were more frequent during acute, self-limited hepatitis and after recovery (12 of 18; 67%) than during chronic hepatitis (16 of 48 (33%); p=0.02). Antiviral therapy of chronic patients restored HBV polymerase and core-specific T cell responses during the first year of treatment, but thereafter, responses decreased and, after 3 years, were no more frequent than in untreated patients. Decreased T cell responsiveness during prolonged therapy was associated with increased prevalence of lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants and increased HBV titers. The data provide a rationale for the combination of antiviral and immunostimulatory therapy. These newly described HBV polymerase epitopes could be a valuable component of a therapeutic vaccine for a large and ethnically diverse patient population.     

不同临床类型乙型病毒感染者外周血T 细胞亚群与血清HBV DNA 载量 及HBeAg 滴度相关性分析

目的:探讨慢性乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染患者外周血T细胞亚群与血清HBV DNA载量及HbeAg滴度的关系。方法:选取103名HBV感染患者和20名健康者为研究对象。流式细胞术检测外周血T细胞亚群,聚合酶链式反应及酶免疫分析法分别检测血清HBV DNA载量及HbeAg滴度。结果:慢性乙型肝炎患者和慢性HBV携带者外周血CD3+T、CD4+T淋巴细胞亚群百分数低于健康对照组,结果有统计学意义(P<0.05或0.01;而CD8+T细胞亚群则呈现相反趋势,结果亦有统计学意义(P<0.05或0.01)。HBeAg阴性组中,HBVDNA水平与CD8+T细胞亚群百分数呈正相关(r=0.567,P<0.01),与CD4+/CD8+T细胞亚群百分数比值呈负相关(r=-0.601,P<0.01),而与CD3+T、CD4+T细胞亚群百分数无相关性。HBeAg阳性组中,HBV DNA水平及HbeAg滴度与CD3+T、CD4+T、CD8+T细胞百分数及CD4+/CD8+T细胞百分数均无相关性(P>0.05)。结论:不同临床类型的慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染患者外周血T细胞亚群存在不同程度细胞免疫功能降低和细胞免疫调节异常。HbeAg阴性的HBV感染患者,其血清HBV DNA水平与外周血T淋巴细胞免疫存在相关性。     

不同临床类型乙型病毒感染者外周血T细胞亚群与血清HBVDNA载量及HBeAg滴度相关性分析

目的：探讨慢性乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染患者外周血T细胞亚群与血清HBVDNA载量及HbeAg滴度的关系。方法：选取103名HBV感染患者和20名健康者为研究对象。流式细胞术检测外周血T细胞亚群,聚合酶链式反应及酶免疫分析法分别检测血清HBVDNA载量及HbeAg滴度。结果：慢性乙型肝炎患者和慢性HBV携带者外周血CD3可、CD4T淋巴细胞亚群百分数低于健康对照组,结果有统计学意义（P〈0．05或0．01;而CD8＋T细胞亚群则呈现相反趋势,结果亦有统计学意义（P〈0．05或0．01）。HBeAg阴性组中,HBVDNA水平与CD8T细胞亚群百分数呈正相关（r=0．567,P〈0．01）,与CD47CD8＋T细胞亚群百分数比值呈负相关（r=-0．601,P〈0．01）,而与CD3＋T、CD4＋T细胞亚群百分数无相关性。HBeAg阳性组中,HBVDNA水平及HbeAg滴度与cD3＋1r、cD41、CD8叮细胞百分数及CD47CD8＋T细胞百分数均无相关性（P〉0．05）。结论：不同临床类型的慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染患者外周血T细胞亚群存在不同程度细胞免疫功能降低和细胞免疫调节异常。HbeAg阴性的HBV感染患者,其血清HBVDNA水平与外周血T淋巴细胞免疫存在相关性。     

Modulation of the CD8+-T-cell response by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with hepatitis B virus infection

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells have been shown to maintain peripheral tolerance against self and foreign antigens. In this study we analyzed the effect of circulating CD4+ CD25+ T cells on CD8+-T-cell responses of patients with chronic and resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We demonstrated that circulating CD4+ CD25+ T cells modulate the function and expansion of HBV-specific CD8+ cells ex vivo in all patients, regardless of whether they have chronic or resolved HBV infection. The possible role of CD4+ CD25+ T cells in the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection is not supported by these data. However, these results might have implications for optimizing future immunotherapeutic approaches to HBV treatment.     

恩替卡韦对CHB患者外周血T淋巴细胞PD-1水平及

摘要：目的 探讨恩替卡韦对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者外周血T淋巴细胞程序性死亡受体1（PD-1）水平及肝功能的影响。方法 将128例CHB患者随机分为观察组及对照组各64例,对照组患者给予拉米夫定治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予恩替卡韦治疗。分别于治疗前、治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月抽取静脉血5 mL,采用荧光定量PCR检测患者血清HBV DNA载量,流式细胞术检测T淋巴细胞PD-1表达水平,全自动化生化分析仪测定患者血清谷草转氨酶（ALT）水平。结果 两组组患者治疗1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+T细胞PD-1、CD8+ T细胞PD-1水平均低于治疗前（P<0.05）。观察组治疗后1个月、3个月、6个月、12个月HBV DNA载量、ALT水平、CD4+ T细胞PD-1、CD8+ T细胞PD-1水平低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 恩替卡韦能有效抑制CHB患者外周血CD4+、CD8+ T细胞表面PD-1表达水平,进而抑制HBV DNA复制,改善患者肝功能。     

Longitudinal analysis of CD8+ T cells specific for structural and nonstructural hepatitis B virus proteins in patients with chronic hepatitis B: implications for immunotherapy

The cytotoxic T-cell response in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been described as weak and mono- or oligospecific in comparison to the more robust virus-specific T-cell response present in resolved infection. However, chronic hepatitis B is a heterogeneous disease with markedly variable levels of virus replication and liver disease activity. Here we analyzed (both directly ex vivo and after in vitro stimulation) the HBV-specific CD8 T-cell responses against structural and nonstructural HBV proteins longitudinally in patients with different patterns of chronic infections. We found that the profiles of virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell responses during chronic infections are highly heterogeneous and influenced more by the level of HBV replication than by the activity of liver disease. An HBV DNA load of <10(7) copies/ml appears to be the threshold below which circulating multispecific HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells are consistently detected. Furthermore, CD8(+) T cells with different specificities are differentially regulated during chronic infections. HBV core-specific CD8(+) T cells are associated with viral control, while CD8(+) T cells specific for envelope and polymerase epitopes can occasionally be found in the setting of high levels (>10(7) copies) of HBV replication. These findings have implications for the design of immunotherapy for chronic HBV infections.     

预测核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的生化标记筛查及其临床应用

为探寻核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的相关因素及可能血清标记,收集经核苷(酸)类似物治疗的乙型肝炎病毒e抗原(hepatitis B virus e antigen,HBeAg)阳性或阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者,根据治疗应答对其能否停药进行临床评估,分析达到停药标准患者的临床资料,包括性别,年龄,疗程,HBeAg水平,基线丙氨酸氨基转移酶(alanine aminotransferase,ALT)、HBV DNA,停药时的肝硬度值、HBV表面抗原(HBV surface antigen,HBsAg)水平、白细胞介素21(interleukin 21,IL-21)水平、外周血CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数。结果显示,共47例患者符合停药标准,其中HBeAg阳性26例,HBeAg阴性21例;平均年龄(42.45±14.08)岁。抗病毒疗程平均为(4.60±1.61)年。抗病毒治疗初始ALT值为(174.38±200.84)U/L;基线HBV DNA为(5.87±1.06)log拷贝/mL;停药时HBsAg精确定量平均为(1 104.82±1 328.11)IU/mL,IL-21平均为(729.82±427.39)pg/mL,CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数平均为(0.79±0.49)%,肝硬度测定F1 27例、F2 16例、F3 4例、F4 0例。共27例患者复发,1年内累积复发率为57.45%。Logistic回归单因素分析提示,慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发与服药总疗程及停药时IL-21水平、CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数、HBsAg水平有关;Logistic回归多因素分析则提示,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平与复发有关。因此,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平可作为慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发的预测因素。     

Enhancing Virus-Specific Immunity In Vivo by Combining Therapeutic Vaccination and PD-L1 Blockade in Chronic Hepadnaviral Infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence is facilitated by exhaustion of CD8 T cells that express the inhibitory receptor programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). Improvement of the HBV-specific T cell function has been obtained in vitro by inhibiting the PD-1/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction. In this study, we examined whether in vivo blockade of the PD-1 pathway enhances virus-specific T cell immunity and leads to the resolution of chronic hepadnaviral infection in the woodchuck model. The woodchuck PD-1 was first cloned, characterized, and its expression patterns on T cells from woodchucks with acute or chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection were investigated. Woodchucks chronically infected with WHV received a combination therapy with nucleoside analogue entecavir (ETV), therapeutic DNA vaccination and woodchuck PD-L1 antibody treatment. The gain of T cell function and the suppression of WHV replication by this therapy were evaluated. We could show that PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells was correlated with WHV viral loads during WHV infection. ETV treatment significantly decreased PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells in chronic carriers. In vivo blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on CD8 T cells, in combination with ETV treatment and DNA vaccination, potently enhanced the function of virus-specific T cells. Moreover, the combination therapy potently suppressed WHV replication, leading to sustained immunological control of viral infection, anti-WHs antibody development and complete viral clearance in some woodchucks. Our results provide a new approach to improve T cell function in chronic hepatitis B infection, which may be used to design new immunotherapeutic strategies in patients.     

恩替卡韦联合胸腺肽α1治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效研究

目的：观察和比较恩替卡韦联合胸腺肽α1治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效。方法：选取我院58例HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者分成联合组和对照组。联合组28例,初始同时使用恩替卡韦及胸腺肽αl24周,之后停胸腺肽αl继续用恩替卡韦至48周。对照组30例,单用恩替卡韦0．5mg／d,48周。定期检测ALT复常率,HBVDNA转阴率,HBeAg／抗HBe血清转换率,肝纤维化组合,Fibroscan评分两组在治疗结束时进行疗效评价。结果：24周时两组ALT复常率无差异显著性（P〉0．05）,联合组和对照组HBVDNA阴转率在24周、48周时均差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。联合组与单用组HBeAg血清转换率在第24周、48周时,两组比较差异均有显著性（P〈0．05）。肝纤维化组合各指标（HA,LN,PIIIP,Ⅳ型胶原）,Fibroscan评分两组治疗48周后比较差异均有显著性（P〈0．05）,且两组治疗前后差异联合组更显著。治疗过程中,未发现明显副作用。结论：恩替卡韦联合胸腺肽d1治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎,安全性与耐受性良好,联合组在ALT复常率,HBeAg血清转换率和HBVDNA转阴率,抗肝纤维仲韵井种P昂荽楫干蕈闱凰巷卡韦组．     

Functional characterization of cloned intrahepatic, hepatitis B virus nucleoprotein-specific helper T cell lines

We have previously reported the establishment and preliminary characterization of polyclonal hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleoprotein (HBcAg)-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lines derived from the hepatic lymphomononuclear cell infiltrate of several patients with chronic active hepatitis B. The isolated subsets from these lines were specifically activated by HBcAg and displayed antigen-specific help and suppression with respect to proliferation of the alternate subset. One of these lines was recently cloned by limiting dilution, and four HBcAg-specific CD3+ CD4+ CD8-DR+ T cell lines were produced that had a 95.3% likelihood of monoclonality. Antigenic specificity was confirmed by dose-dependent, HLA class II (DR)-restricted proliferation in response to recombinant and human serum-derived HBcAg and the lack of proliferation to HBV envelope antigens (HBsAg and pre-S(2)Ag). All cloned lines were interleukin 2 dependent, produced interferon-gamma in an antigen-specific manner, and provided antigen-specific help to autologous B cells with respect to anti-HBc production. We conclude that HBcAg-specific, HLA-class II restricted helper T cells capable of inducing antigen-specific functional responses by autologous B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes are present at the site of viral antigen synthesis and hepatocellular injury in HBV infection.