Serological surveillance and IL-10 genetic variants on anti-HBs titers: hepatitis B vaccination 20 years after neonatal immunization in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The national hepatitis B (HB) vaccination program in Taiwan that began in 1984 has resulted in a significant reduction in the carrier rate among children. However, a significant proportion of Taiwanese neonatal HB immunization recipients have exhibited low anti-HBs titers that fall to non-protective or undetectable levels.


METHODS
We recruited 1677 entering freshman and graduate student participants at a Taiwanese university health center, grouped them into three age groups representing three stages of Taiwan's HB vaccination program, then conducted hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) serological surveillances for each individual. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses of clinical characteristics and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) genetic variations were also conducted.


RESULTS
A trend toward a decreasing HBsAg carrier rate was observed over the starting dates of the vaccination program (11.7%, 1.6% and 1.7% for age groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively), but we also observed an increasing rate of non-protective anti-HBs titers (15%, 26% and 50.3% for cohorts 1-3, respectively). The percentage of students with non-protective anti-HBs titers increased from 23.1% for students born in 1984, to 25.2% for those born in 1985, to 39.4% for birth-year 1986 students, to 45.7% for birth-year 1987 students, and to 56.5% for birth-year 1988 students. The risk for low anti-HBs titers increased concurrently with increases in systolic blood pressure (BP), the IL-10 ATA/ACC haplotype, and the IL-10 ATA present haplotype. Risk for low anti-HBs titers decreased with concurrent decreases in glucose ante cibum (AC, before meals) and the IL-10 ACC/ACC haplotype.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the genetic determinants may also contribute to variations in anti-HBs titers in immune responses to HB vaccination.
Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. yjlin.kath@gmail.com
Ying-Ju
YJ
Lin
Yu-Ching
YC
Lan
Lei
L
Wan
Ting-Hsu
TH
Lin
Da-Yuan
DY
Chen
Chang-Hai
CH
Tsai
Chiu-Shong
CS
Liu
Kai-Chung
KC
Hsueh
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013334:Students; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016753:Interleukin-10