title: The efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination program in upper Egypt: Flow cytometry and the evaluation of long term immunogenicity.
abstract: Anti-HBs levels wanes with time. Many studies discussed the B cell response to HBV vaccine. However, the data about memory T cell response are limited. To evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine via evaluating anti-HBs levels and HBsAg specific memory T-lymphocytes through descriptive study. The study was conducted in a tertiary care setting. This study included 440 vaccinated persons during infancy. Group I: 6 to less than 10 years old; Group II: 10 to less than 14 years old; Group III: 14 to less than 17 years old; Group IV: 17 years old. The serum samples were screened for HBV markers. Cytokines secretion by HBsAg-specific memory CD45RO(+) CD4(+) T cells was measured after in vitro culture using flow cytometry. The mean titer of anti-HBs was higher in group I in comparison to others (P-value = 0.000 for each). IFN-γ and IL-4 secreted by memory CD4(+) T cells were positive in all with anti-HBs >100 mIU/ml, while positive in 87% and 75% of participants with anti-HBs <10 mIU/ml and positive in 73% and 32% of participants with absent anti-HBs. The percentage of cells secreting IFN-γ and those secreting IL-4 were higher among participants with serum anti-HBs >100 mIU/ml than those having <10 mIU/ml or absent (P < 0.001 for each). Anti-HBs positivity decreased with time since childhood vaccination. Breakthrough infections are rare in vaccinated persons. Hepatitis-B vaccine is efficient in controlling HBV infection. Flow cytometry is a useful tool to assess the long term persistence of T cell memory after childhood vaccination. J. Med. Virol. 88:1567-1575, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nahed A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Makhlouf
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahlam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farghaly
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaky
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hebat-Alla G
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nagla H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Abu Faddan
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Douaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Omnia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El-Badawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wafaa S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Yousseria
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D000071497:Immunogenicity, Vaccine; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens
keywords: flow cytometry; hepatitis B vaccine; memory T-lymphocytes