Summary
The production of lymphokines by human HBsAg-reactive T cell clones was examined. The five clones were successfully obtained from an HBV-vaccinated person and were composed exclusively of Leu l+, Leu 2a−, Leu 3a+, helper/inducer T cells. Three of the five showed significant levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production and all of the five produced B cell growth factor (BCGF) by stimulation with HBsAg but not with unrelated antigens, including influenza A virus antigens and PPD, whereas no detectable amount of interleukin-2 was found in all clone supernatants. The magnitude of HBsAg-induced cell proliferation did not parallel the levels of IFN-γ production among the clones. These results indicate from the view of lymphokine production that the HBsAg-reactive helper/inducer T cell clones were heterogeneous even from a source of the peripheral blood sample, and further suggest that the clones play important roles in the immune reaction against HBV infection by producing lymphokines upon antigenic stimulation.
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Nonomura, A., Ohta, G. Production of lymphokines by HBsAg-reactive human T cell clones upon antigenic stimulation. Gastroenterol Jpn 22, 453–458 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773813
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773813