Long-term Persistence of T Cell Memory to HBsAg After Hepatitis B Vaccination

Overview

Journal World J Gastroenterol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2004 Jan 13

PMID 14716835

Citations 16

Authors

Ru-Xiang Wang

Greet J Boland

Jan van Hattum

Gijsbert C de Gast

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: To determine if the T cell memory to HBsAg can persist for a long time after hepatitis B (HB) vaccination.

Methods: Thirty one vaccine recipients who were healthcare workers (18 females and 13 males aged 34-58 years) from Utrecht University Hospital, Netherlands, and had previously received a standard course of vaccination for hepatitis B were investigated and another 9 unvaccinated healthy volunteers from the same hospital were used as the control. Blood samples were taken just before the experiment to test serum anti-HBs levels and the subjects were classified into different groups according to their serum titers of anti-HBs and vaccination history. Their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from freshly heparinized venous blood and the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to the recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was investigated.

Results: Positive serum anti-HBs was found in 61.3% (19/31) vaccine recipients and a significant in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response to recombinant HBsAg was observed in all the vaccinees with positive anti-HBs. Serum anti-HBs level < or =10 IU/L was found in 38.7% (12/31) subjects. In this study, we specially focused on lymphocyte proliferative response to recombinant HBsAg in those vaccine recipients with serum anti-HBsAg less than 10 IU/L. Most of them had received a standard course of vaccination about 10 years before. T lymphocyte proliferative response was found positive in 7 of the 12 vaccine recipients. These results confirmed that HBsAg-specific memory T cells remained detectable in the circulation for a long time after vaccination, even when serum anti-HBs level had been undetectable.

Conclusion: The T cell memory to HBsAg can persist for at least 10 years after HB vaccination. Further booster injection is not necessary in healthy responders to HB vaccine.

Citing Articles

Potential Association between Shift Work and Serologic Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination among Manufacturing Workers in Republic of Korea.

Kim S, Chae C Vaccines (Basel). 2024; 12(9).

PMID: 39340070 PMC: 11435996. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091041.

Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Serologic Response to Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination among Heavy Industry Workers.

Kim S, Chae C Vaccines (Basel). 2024; 12(7).

PMID: 39066360 PMC: 11281628. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070723.

The Impact of Smoking on Long-Term Protection Following Hepatitis B Vaccination: A 24-Year Cohort Study.

Fonzo M, Palmisano A, Trevisan A, Bertoncello C Viruses. 2024; 16(7).

PMID: 39066298 PMC: 11281657. DOI: 10.3390/v16071137.

T-cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2: what if the known best is not the optimal course for the long run? Adapting to evolving targets.

Nowill A, Caruso M, de Campos-Lima P Front Immunol. 2023; 14:1133225.

PMID: 37388738 PMC: 10303130. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1133225.

Persistence of spike-specific immune responses in BNT162b2-vaccinated donors and generation of rapid T cells expansion protocol for adoptive immunotherapy: A pilot study.

Mestiri S, Merhi M, Inchakalody V, Taib N, Smatti M, Ahmad F Front Immunol. 2023; 14:1061255.

PMID: 36817441 PMC: 9933868. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1061255.

References

Kojouharova M, Teoharov P, Bahtchevanova T, Maeva I, Eginlian A, Deneva M . Safety and immunogenicity of a yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in Bulgarian newborns. Infection. 2002; 29(6):342-4. DOI: 10.1007/s15010-001-1150-6. View

Li H, Li R, Liao S, Yang J, Zeng X, Wang S . Persistence of hepatitis B vaccine immune protection and response to hepatitis B booster immunization. World J Gastroenterol. 2002; 4(6):493-496. PMC: 4723436. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i6.493. View

Wismans P, van Hattum J, Mudde G, Endeman H, Poel J, de Gast G . Is booster injection with hepatitis B vaccine necessary in healthy responders? A study of the immune response. J Hepatol. 1989; 8(2):236-40. DOI: 10.1016/0168-8278(89)90013-5. View

Garcia Llop L, Asensi Alcoverro A, Coll Mas P, Ramada Benedito M, Grafia Juan C . [Anti-HBs titers after a vaccination program in children and adolescents. Should a booster dose be given?]. An Esp Pediatr. 2001; 54(1):32-7. View

Roome A, Walsh S, Cartter M, Hadler J . Hepatitis B vaccine responsiveness in Connecticut public safety personnel. JAMA. 1993; 270(24):2931-4. View

Whittle H, Maine N, Pilkington J, Mendy M, Fortuin M, Bunn J . Long-term efficacy of continuing hepatitis B vaccination in infancy in two Gambian villages. Lancet. 1995; 345(8957):1089-92. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)90822-6. View

Trivello R, Chiaramonte M, Ngatchu T, Baldo V, Majori S, Moschen M . Persistence of anti-HBs antibodies in health care personnel vaccinated with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine and response to recombinant DNA HB booster vaccine. Vaccine. 1995; 13(2):139-41. DOI: 10.1016/0264-410x(95)93126-t. View

de Gast G, Houwen B, NIEWEG H . Specific lymphocyte stimulation by purified, heat-inactivated hepatitis-B antigen. Br Med J. 1973; 4(5894):707-9. PMC: 1587858. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.4.5894.707. View

Zeng X, Liao S, Chen A, Tan J, Huang Z, Li H . Survey of coverage, strategy and cost of hepatitis B vaccination in rural and urban areas of China. World J Gastroenterol. 2002; 5(4):320-323. PMC: 4695544. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i4.320. View

10.

Jilg W, Schmidt M, Deinhardt F . Decline of anti-HBs after hepatitis B vaccination and timing of revaccination. Lancet. 1990; 335(8682):173-4. DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)90050-f. View

11.

Degrassi A, Mariani E, Honorati M, Roda P, Miniero R, Capelli M . Cellular response and anti-HBs synthesis in vitro after vaccination with yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis vaccine. Vaccine. 1992; 10(9):617-22. DOI: 10.1016/0264-410x(92)90443-n. View

12.

Liao S, Li R, Li H, Yang J, Zeng X, Gong J . Long-term efficacy of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine among Chinese children: a 12-year follow-up study. World J Gastroenterol. 2002; 5(2):165-166. PMC: 4688532. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i2.165. View

13.

Fernan A, Cayzer C, Cooksley W . HBsAg-induced antigen-specific T and B lymphocyte responses in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers and immune individuals. Clin Exp Immunol. 1989; 76(2):222-6. PMC: 1541835. View

14.

Deulofeut H, Iglesias A, Mikael N, Bing D, Awdeh Z, Yunis J . Cellular recognition and HLA restriction of a midsequence HBsAg peptide in hepatitis B vaccinated individuals. Mol Immunol. 1993; 30(10):941-8. DOI: 10.1016/0161-5890(93)90019-8. View

15.

Huang L, Chiang B, Lee C, Lee P, Chi W, Chang M . Long-term response to hepatitis B vaccination and response to booster in children born to mothers with hepatitis B e antigen. Hepatology. 1999; 29(3):954-9. DOI: 10.1002/hep.510290349. View

16.

Wismans P, van Hattum J, de Gast G, Endeman H, Poel J, Stolk B . The spot-ELISA: a sensitive in vitro method to study the immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen. Clin Exp Immunol. 1989; 78(1):75-9. PMC: 1534596. View

17.

. Are booster immunisations needed for lifelong hepatitis B immunity? European Consensus Group on Hepatitis B Immunity. Lancet. 2000; 355(9203):561-5. View

18.

Wood R, MacDonald K, White K, Hedberg C, Hanson M, Osterholm M . Risk factors for lack of detectable antibody following hepatitis B vaccination of Minnesota health care workers. JAMA. 1993; 270(24):2935-9. View

19.

Jain A, Mathur U, Jandwani P, Gupta R, Kumar V, Kar P . A multicentric evaluation of recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine of Cuban origin. Trop Gastroenterol. 2000; 21(1):14-7. View

20.

Li H, Li R, Liao S, Gong J, Zeng X, Li Y . Long-term effectiveness of infancy low-dose hepatitis B vaccine immunization in Zhuang minority area in China. World J Gastroenterol. 2002; 5(2):122-124. PMC: 4688521. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i2.122. View