@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-83-6-1281, author = "Vanlandschoot, Peter and Van Houtte, Freya and Roobrouck, Annelies and Farhoudi, Ali and Leroux-Roels, Geert", title = "Hepatitis B virus surface antigen suppresses the activation of monocytes through interaction with a serum protein and a monocyte-specific receptor", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "2002", volume = "83", number = "6", pages = "1281-1289", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-83-6-1281", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-83-6-1281", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, high numbers of non-infectious HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) particles are present in circulation. It is shown here that recombinant HBsAg (rHBsAg) particles, which contain the S protein only, bind almost exclusively to monocytes. Attachment of rHBsAg to the THP-1 pre-monocytic cell line occurs upon 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced differentiation. Binding to monocytes is enhanced by a heat-labile serum protein and is inhibited by Ca2+/Mg2+, low pH and an HBsAg-specific monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, it is shown that rHBsAg suppresses lipopolysaccharide- and IL-2-induced production of cytokines. These results suggest the existence of a monocyte-specific receptor, the engagement of which by HBsAg suppresses the activity of these cells.", }