| First Author | Chen MT | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 41 | Pages | 14913-8 |
| PubMed ID | 15469922 | Mgi Jnum | J:93545 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3057255 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.0406282101 |
| Citation | Chen MT, et al. (2004) A function of the hepatitis B virus precore protein is to regulate the immune response to the core antigen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(41):14913-8 |
| abstractText | A unique characteristic of the hepatitis B virus is the production of a secreted form (precore or HBeAg) of the structural nucleocapsid (core or HBcAg). By using T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (Tg) and TCR x HBc/HBeAg double- and triple-Tg pairs, we demonstrate that HBeAg elicits T cell tolerance, whereas HBcAg is nontolerogenic in this system. In fact, TCR x HBc double-Tg mice spontaneously seroconvert to IgG anti-HBc positivity at an early age. However, the presence of HBeAg in the serum of TCR x HBc x HBe triple-Tg mice prevents anti-HBc seroconversion. HBeAg mediates its immunoregulatory effect by eliciting tolerance in HBc/HBeAg-specific T cells. The results suggest that hepadnaviruses have retained a secretory form of the nucleoprotein because it functions as a T cell tolerogen and regulates the immune response to the intracellular nucleocapsid. This HBeAg-mediated immune regulation may predispose to chronicity during perinatal infections and prevent severe liver injury during adult infections. |
