OXIDATIVE BURST RESPONSE OF NEUTROPHILS PRINTED WITH PRES1 ANTIGEN OFHEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B AND CONVALESCENTS

The pathogenesis of liver damage in the course of hepatitis B virus (H BV) infection depends on the host's specific and non-specific immune r esponse to various viral antigens. The role of polymorphonuclear neutr ophils (PMN) in the natural immune reaction and during secondary micro bial infections is well documented. Increased free radical production is associated with many pathological conditions such as shock, ischaem ia or chronic inflammatory diseases, We studied the oxidative metaboli sm of neutrophils in patients with chronic HBV and after recovery (con valescents). The effect of the PreS1 fragment of HBV antigen on some n eutrophil functions in vitro was also examined.