Evaluation of the effects of human leukocyte IFN-alpha on the immune response to the HBV vaccine in healthy unvaccinated individuals.
HBV vaccine needs 3 injections over 6 months to induce immunity. Thus, the use of adjuvants capable of inducing earlier immune protection would be highly desirable. Most adjuvants may act by inducing cytokines, and among them, type I interferons (IFNs), deserve a special attention in view of the potent immunomostimulatory activity observed in mouse models and on dendritic cell functions. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the effects of IFN-alpha administered as an adjuvant of HBV vaccine in healthy unvaccinated individuals. No significant enhancing effect on the antibody response was observed, in spite of an early and transient upregulation of costimulatory molecule expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which may be suggestive of an IFN-mediated activation of antigen presenting cells. We conclude that, under the conditions used in this trial, natural IFN-alpha does not act as an adjuvant of the HBV vaccine in healthy unvaccinated individuals.
Rizza
Paola
P
Section of Experimental Immunotherapy, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161Rome, Italy. paola.rizza@iss.it
Capone
Imerio
I
Urbani
Francesca
F
Montefiore
Enrica
E
Rapicetta
Maria
M
Chionne
Paola
P
Candido
Angela
A
Tosti
Maria Elena
ME
Grimaldi
Maria
M
Palazzini
Ernesto
E
Viscomi
Giuseppe
G
Cursaro
Carmela
C
Margotti
Marzia
M
Scuteri
Alessandra
A
Andreone
Pietro
P
Taylor
Elisabeth
E
Haygreen
Elisabeth A
EA
Tough
David F
DF
Borrow
Persephone
P
Selleri
Marina
M
Castilletti
Concetta
C
Capobianchi
Maria
M
Belardelli
Filippo
F
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma