title: Mannose-binding lectin and ficolin-2 do not influence humoral immune response to hepatitis B vaccine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Host genetics appear to be an important factor in the failure to generate a protective immune response after hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolin-2 (FCN2), two pattern recognition receptors of the lectin pathway of complement, influence the clinical outcome of HBV, and MBL deficiency has been shown to augment the humoral response to HBV vaccination in several experimental models. Here, we investigated the association of MBL and FCN2 with the humoral response to HBV vaccination in a candidate gene and functional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A post hoc analysis of a prospective, interventional HBV vaccination study among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) uninfected individuals in Kenya was conducted. Serum levels and polymorphisms of MBL and FCN2 were analysed in relation to the immune response to HBV vaccination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protective hepatitis B surface antibody levels (≥ 10 mI U/mL) were evident in 251/293 (85.7%) individuals. Median MBL and FCN2 levels were similar in responders vs. non-responders with a weak trend towards lower median MBL levels in non-responders (1.0 vs. 1.6μg/mL, p=0.1). Similarly, there was no difference in four MBL and six FCN2 polymorphisms analysed in the two groups with the exception of an increased frequency of a homozygous MBL codon 57 mutation in non-responders (4 (9.5%) vs. 8 (3.2%), p=0.05) corresponding to lower MBL levels. Results were similar after adjusting for age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study does not support a prominent role of the lectin pathway of complement in general and MBL and FCN2 in particular in the humoral immune response to HBV vaccination in African adults.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osthoff
authors.affiliation: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Irungu
authors.affiliation: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ngure
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baeten
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: Damon.Eisen@mh.org.au.
authors.forename: Damon P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Eisen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007630:Kenya; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D037102:Lectins; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D000097604:Ficolins; C445619:MBL2 protein, human
keywords: Complement system; Ficolin-2; Hepatitis B vaccination; Innate immunity; Mannose-binding lectin