Antibody detection and kinetics of antibody production during early stages of immunization with hepatitis B virus vaccine.
Antibodies to influenza virus and human immunodeficiency virus are detectable in B cells during the early stages of the immune response, prior to their occurrence in plasma. To investigate similar phenomena in a model of immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, medical students in Ghana were screened for HBV markers, HBV surface (HBs) antigen (HBsAg), and HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc). Consenting volunteers, 24 of whom were seronegative (susceptible) and 2 of whom were positive for anti-HBc (prior infection), were vaccinated on day 0, day 40, and 6 months. Two sets of 10 blood samples, sequentially collected at intervals of 2 days following each immunization on days 0 and 40, were processed into B-cell lysates and plasma. Solid-phase HBsAg coated on microtiter plates for enzyme immunoassay or nitrocellulose membranes for dot blot assay was used to detect anti-HBs activity by an indirect antiglobulin assay. A commercially procured sandwich immunoassay was used, along with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a dot blot assay, for the detection of anti-HBs in B-cell lysates and plasma. Following the first injection of vaccine, a single sample of B-cell lysate collected between 5 and 21 days revealed anti-HBs in 18/21 subjects with no plasma antibodies detectable by sandwich immunoassay. After the booster dose was injected on day 40, a single sample of B-cell lysate collected between 44 and 49 days showed anti-HBs in 16/19 subjects, and this was accompanied by plasma antibodies in 8 subjects. In contrast, between 8 and 13 days, both subjects with prior HBV infection showed anti-HBs in B-cell lysates and plasma. Thus, primary immunization with the HBV vaccine appears to transiently elicit low-affinity anti-HBs in B-cell lysates into plasma.
Odinsen
Odd
O
PlasmAcute AS, High Technology Center, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway. odd.odinsen@chello.no
Owusu-Ofori
Shirley
S
Dompreh
Albert
A
Sarkodie
Francis
F
Opare-Sem
Ohene
O
Parker
David
D
Allain
Jean-Pierre
JP
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D007700:Kinetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins