Hepatitis B immunisation induces higher antibody and memory Th2 responses in new-borns than in adults.
New-borns raise limited antibody responses to most T cell-dependent antigens but little is known about neonatal T lymphocyte responses to vaccines. In this study, we compared the immune response induced by the hepatitis B vaccine in new-borns and nai;ve adults. Infants produced markedly higher serum anti-hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibody titres than adults. This was not associated with greater HBs Ag-specific Th2 cytokine responses but with lower primary IFN-gamma responses. At 1 year, the infant memory response to HBs Ag was characterised by higher Th2 responses than those of adults. We conclude that neonatal antibody and T cell responses to hepatitis B vaccine differ from those induced in adults.
Ota
Martin O C
MO
Medical Research Council Laboratories, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, Gambia.
Vekemans
Johan
J
Schlegel-Haueter
Susanna E
SE
Fielding
Katherine
K
Whittle
Hilton
H
Lambert
Paul Henri
PH
McAdam
Keith P W J
KP
Siegrist
Claire Anne
CA
Marchant
Arnaud
A
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007371:Interferon-gamma