[Antibody responses in human being to pre-S2 and related hepatitis B virus-envelope antigens in vivo and in vitro].
Although hepatitis B (HB) virus-associated pre-S2 Ag may be important in facilitating the uptake of virions into hepatocytes, it is not clear whether the anti-pre-S2 antibody plays a substantial role in the protection from infection in man. The mechanisms underlying the nonresponsiveness to the HB vaccine are not clear. To evaluate the immunological background in nonresponders to pre-S2 Ag, HLA-DR/DQ antigens and the production of antibodies to pre-S2 Ag and HBs Ag were estimated in vitro on medical healthy personnel. Ninety-one males and 213 females were vaccinated with pre-S2 Ag positive plasma-derived HB vaccine three times. Four months after the third vaccination, blood was withdrawn for pre-S2 antibody test by ELISA. Antibodies to pre-S2 Ag were found in 19.8% of the individuals. Nonresponders were observed at a higher frequency in males than females, and they were seen more frequently in the elderly than young individuals. In aged subjects, aging seemed to be the major factor in their unresponsiveness. A high frequency of HLA-DR4.DRw53.DQw3 haplotype was observed in the subjects with nonresponsiveness against pre-S2 Ag. In order to induce the secretion of anti-HBs antibody, we investigated the effect of simultaneous administration of HBs Ag and immunoglobulin containing anti-HBs antibody on the antibody responses in vitro. In vitro stimulation of mononuclear cells from 10 individuals who failed to respond or responded poorly to HB vaccine induced a significant amount of anti-HBs antibody in 5 cases, whereas stimulation with HBs Ag alone failed to induce the antibody secretion in most cases.
Ogata
M
M
Central Clinical Laboratories, Fukushima Medical College.
Ishikawa
H
H
Kato
Y
Y
Honta
S
S
Yoshida
H
H
Yasuda
H
H
Ohto
H
H
Watanabe
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen