Characterization of hepatitis B virus surface antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in hepatitis B vaccine non-responders.
OBJECTIVE
To study the mechanisms of hepatitis B vaccine non-response, we examined hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from hepatitis B (HB) vaccinees.


METHODS
Subsequently, we have examined the features of HBsAg-reactive CD4+ T cells in HB vaccine non-responders (NR). Based on serum antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) titers, we divided these vaccinees into three groups: high responder (HR), middle responder (MR) and non-responder (NR), and examined HBsAg-induced proliferation of their PBMC.


RESULTS
We found that the in vitro response of PBMC to stimulation with HBsAg was correlated with their serum anti-HBs titer (mean stimulation index was 10.71 in HR, 4.37 in MR and 1.96 in NR). However, by the deletion of CD8+ T cells, the increased response was observed in two of four NRs.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results have also shown that at least four distinct HBsAg-reactive CD4+ clones existed (variable gene of T cell receptor beta (V beta) 17 + clone restricted with HLA-DR locus (DR4), V beta 8 + clone restricted with HLA-DQ locust (DQ7), and both V beta 5.1 + clone and V beta 20 + clone restricted with either DR9 or DQ3) in NRs. The results demonstrated that heterogeneous HBsAg-reactive CD4 clones existed in some HB vaccine NRs.
Suzuki
T
T
Division of Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan.
Yamauchi
K
K
Kuwata
T
T
Hayashi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines