Aberrant lymphocyte activation precedes delayed virus-specific T-cell response after both primary infection and secondary exposure to hepadnavirus in the woodchuck model of hepatitis B virus infection.

ABSTRACT: The contribution of virus-specific T lymphocytes to the outcome of acute hepadnaviral hepatitis is well recognized, but a reason behind the consistent postponement of this response remains unknown. Also, the characteristics of T-cell reactivity following reexposure to hepadnavirus are not thoroughly recognized. To investigate these issues, healthy woodchucks (Marmota monax) were infected with liver-pathogenic doses of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) and investigated unchallenged or after challenge with the same virus. As expected, the WHV-specific T-cell response appeared late, 6 to 7 weeks postinfection, remained high during acute disease, and then declined but remained detectable long after the resolution of hepatitis. Interestingly, almost immediately after infection, lymphocytes acquir

SUBMITTER: Gujar SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2446969 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature