title: Low-dose interleukin-2 induces systemic immune responses against HBsAg in immunodeficient non-responders to hepatitis B vaccination.
abstract: A metabolic monocyte defect appears to correlate with non-responsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine in many patients on haemodialysis. This defect prevents production of interleukin-2 during T-cell activation after antigen contact. Receptors for interleukin-2 are, however, expressed in greater numbers than in healthy subjects or uraemic responders to hepatitis B vaccination. In this study, ten uraemic patients, previous non-responders to vaccination against hepatitis B, were revaccinated with the same vaccine combined with one intramuscular injection (2.5 x 10(5) U) of natural human interleukin-2. Systemic production of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen was initiated in those immunodeficient patients whose cellular interleukin-2 receptor levels were found to be enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Angewandte Immunologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Meuer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dumann
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000276:immunology; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines