T cell responses to hepatitis B surface antigen are detectable in non-vaccinated individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, whether humoral hepatitis-B-vaccine non-responders also fail to mount a T cell response and to compare these results to normal vaccinees.


METHODS
Fourty-seven health care employees were enrolled in this study including all available non-responders (n = 13) with an anti-HBsAg titer < 10 kU/L and all available low-responders (n = 12) with an anti-HBsAg titer < 100 kU/L. Also, 12 consecutive anti-HBsAg negative pre-vaccination subjects were enrolled as well as 10 subjects (+7 from the vaccinated group) with titers > 1000 kU/L as controls. PBMC from all subjects were analyzed by IFN-gamma and IL-4 ELISPOT assays for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reactive T cells.


RESULTS
Non-responders and low-responders had no or only very limited T cell responses, respectively. Individuals responding to vaccination with the induction of a high anti-HBsAg titer showed a strong T cell response after the third vaccination. Surprisingly, these individuals showed response even before the first vaccination. T cell response to control antigens and mitogens was similar in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that there is no general immune deficiency in non-/low-responders. Thus, we hypothesize that the induction of anti-HBsAg responses by vaccination is significantly dependent on the pre-existing T cell repertoire against the specific antigen rather than the presence of a general T cell defect.
Weihrauch
Martin R
MR
Molecular Tumor Biology and Tumor Immunology, University of Cologne, Köln 50924, Germany. martin.weihrauch@uni-koeln.de
von Bergwelt-Baildon
Michael
M
Kandic
Milos
M
Weskott
Martin
M
Klamp
Winfried
W
Rosler
Joachim
J
Schultze
Joachim L
JL
D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D055815:Young Adult
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines