Role of T-cell tolerance in the persistence of hepatitis B virus infection
DR Milich, J Jones, J Hughes… - Journal of …, 1993 - journals.lww.com
Infants born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier mothers
invariably become persistently infected. To investigate the role of immunologic tolerance
mechanisms in chronic infection of the newborn, we have generated HBeAg-expressing
transgenic mice (B10. STg31e). These mice were tolerant to both HBeAg and the
nonsecreted HBcAg at the T-cell level. Furthermore, nontransgenic littermates born to
HBeAgexpressing mothers showed lowered T-cell responses to HBc/HBe antigens …
invariably become persistently infected. To investigate the role of immunologic tolerance
mechanisms in chronic infection of the newborn, we have generated HBeAg-expressing
transgenic mice (B10. STg31e). These mice were tolerant to both HBeAg and the
nonsecreted HBcAg at the T-cell level. Furthermore, nontransgenic littermates born to
HBeAgexpressing mothers showed lowered T-cell responses to HBc/HBe antigens …