title: Cellular response and anti-HBs synthesis in vitro after vaccination with yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis vaccine.
abstract: Two groups of subjects receiving two different doses of yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) (10 micrograms Gen-HB-Vax, Merck Sharp and Dohme and 20 micrograms Engerix-B, Smith Kline and French) were investigated for in vitro specific humoral and cellular response to the native protein. In vitro proliferative response was dependent on the following critical variables: (1) antigen-specific precursor lymphocytes were present in the peripheral blood for a very short time; (2) the number of circulating specific precursors was dependent on the dose of HBsAg used for vaccination; (3) the presence of antigen-presenting cells was necessary to obtain a blastogenic response in vitro. In vitro proliferation was enhanced by the addition of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2). Spontaneous and stimulated (anti-CD3, pokeweed mitogen) anti-HBs antibody production in vitro was obtained in only eight out of 20 subjects after the fourth boost. Although a different immunogenicity of the two vaccines cannot be excluded, these data strongly suggest that T and B cells responsive to HBsAg present different kinetics of recirculation in the peripheral blood, depending on the antigen dose used for immunization.
authors.affiliation: Instituto di Clinica Medica, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degrassi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Honorati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines