The IgG subclass profile of anti-HBs response in vaccinated children and children seroconverted after natural infection.
The IgG subclass profiles of anti-HBs antibodies were investigated in 30 children who had recovered from acute hepatitis B and 40 children vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) with Engerix B. After natural seroconversion the mean geometric value of anti-HBs titres was ca 41-fold lower than at the peak of response in vaccinees, and specific antibodies were highly restricted to IgG1 subclass followed by IgG3 with only a minor contribution of IgG2 and IgG4. Conversely, in children immunized with recombinant HBsAg, IgG1 and IgG3 dominated after two doses of vaccine and 1 month after the third injection but the response was less selective and more variable. One year after vaccination IgG4 anti-HBs antibodies became the second dominating isotype. Significant statistical differences in the profiles of IgG anti-HBs were observed when the age and maturity of humoral response were considered. While children vaccinated below 5 years of age responded mainly with IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses, older children (> 5 years) showed a high individual variability in the specific profiles with a high contribution of IgG4. We concluded that vaccination at a younger age leads to the production of antibody subclasses which are more effective for virus neutralization.
Gregorek
H
H
Department of Clinical Immunology, Children's Memorial Health Centre Institute, Warsaw, Poland. kmadal@czd.waw.pl
Madaliński
K
K
Woynarowski
M
M
Mikołajewicz
J
J
Syczewska
M
M
Socha
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
C075654:Engerix-B; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic