Suppression of hepatitis B antibody synthesis by factor made by T cells from chronic hepatitis B carriers.

Mononuclear cells taken from subjects who had been immunised with hepatitis B vaccine could be stimulated by pokeweed mitogen plus hepatitis B surface antigen to synthesise antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in vitro. Such synthesis was suppressed by supernatants of cultures of T cells from hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. The suppressor activity of this soluble factor in the supernatants was specific for anti-HBs since it did not affect production of polyclonal immunoglobulins or specific antibody to tetanus toxoid and since its effect was completely absorbed by a hepatitis B surface antigen column. The suppressor factor was made by T-cell cultures but not by non-T-cell cultures. T-cells for 13 out of 15 carriers produced this factor.