Different HBs antibody versus lymphoproliferative responses after application of a monovalent (hepatitis B) or combined (hepatitis A + hepatitis B) vaccine.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate a possible adjuvanticity of simultaneous hepatitis A (HAV) vaccination for the development of HBs-specific antibodies and lymphoproliferative responses in prophylactic immunization with hepatitis B (HBV).


METHODS
Thirty-nine volunteers were vaccinated (schedule: 0/1/6 months) either with a bivalent HAV/HBV (18 individuals) or with HBV (recombinant HBs-antigen) vaccine alone (21 individuals). Anti-HBs antibody titers and lymphoproliferative responses as consequence of stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with HBs were evaluated and compared between the two groups before second vaccination, before and 1 month after booster.


RESULTS
Geometric mean titers were higher at all time points in the group treated with the combined vaccine. On the other hand, after the booster injection, HBs-induced stimulation indices in PBMC were higher in the group vaccinated with HBs alone. Neither the difference in antibody titers nor in proliferative responses reached the level of statistical significance. Interestingly, the inverse relation between cellular proliferation and antibodies was significant, indicating that cellular reactivity is not in all cases a useful marker to evaluate the intensity of the induced immunity.


CONCLUSIONS
The magnitude of the T-lymphocyte response may eventually not be decisive for the subsequent antibody response. Both vaccination strategies led to a cellular and humoral immune response and resulted in protective levels of HBs-specific antibodies.
Wiedermann
U
U
Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Vienna, Austria. Ursula.Wiedermann@akh-wien.ac.at
Kundi
M
M
Vollmann
U
U
Kollaritsch
H
H
Ebner
C
C
Wiedermann
G
G
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C075654:Engerix-B; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic