Antibody-dependent and -independent uptake of HBsAg across human leukocyte subsets is similar between individuals with chronic hepatitis B Virus infection and healthy donors. Journal of viral hepatitis Tharinger, H. n., Rebbapragada, I. n., Samuel, D. n., Novikov, N. n., Nguyen, M. n., Jordan, R. n., Frey, C. R., Pflanz, S. n. 2016

Abstract

Maintaining detectable levels of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum, i.e. HBsAg sero-conversion, is the key clinical endpoint indicative of recovery from infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV-infected hepatocytes secrete HBsAg sub-viral particles in vast excess over HBV virions. Therefore, detectable hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titers imply complete elimination of HBV virions as well as HBsAg particles. Although intrahepatic phagocytes, e.g. Kupffer cells, are thought to mediate clearance of HBsAg via antibody (Ab)-dependent and -independent mechanisms, the relative contributions of circulating phagocytic cell types to HBsAg elimination are poorly characterized. Understanding the role of various immune cell subsets in the clearance of HBsAg is important because Ab-dependent or -independent phagocytic HBsAg uptake may modulate presentation of HBsAg-derived epitopes to antigen-specific T cells and hence plays a critical role in adaptive immunity against HBV. This study aims to characterize phagocytic leukocyte subsets capable of internalizing HBsAg immune complexes (HBsAg:IC) or un-complexed HBsAg particles in whole blood directly ex vivo. The data shows that uptake of HBsAg:IC occurs most prominently in monocytes, B cells, dendritic cells, and in neutrophils. In contrast, B cells, and to a lesser degree also monocytes, seem to be effective phagocytes for un-complexed HBsAg. Importantly, a similar pattern of phagocytic HBsAg uptake was observed in blood from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting that phagocytosis-related cellular functions are not altered in the context of CHB. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

View details for PubMedID 28012213