Hepatitis B core antigen specific CD4 response in peripheral blood.

The proliferative response of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells to recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (rHBcAg) has been studied in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) type B (CAH-B), CAH-nonA nonB, and normal volunteers. CD4+ T cells from patients with CAH-B indicated a significant proliferative response to rHBcAg in the presence of non-T antigen presenting cells. In contrast, there was no apparent T cell reaction to rHBcAg in patients with CAH-nonA nonB and healthy volunteers. We suggested the possibility of CD4-mediated HBcAg specific response even in the peripheral blood compartments of HBcAg-responsive CAH-B patients.