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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2008; 14(22): 3534-3540
Published online Jun 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3534
Relationship between T-lymphocyte cytokine levels and sero-response to hepatitis B vaccines
Vijayakumar Velu, Shanmugam Saravanan, Subhadra Nandakumar, Esaki Muthu Shankar, Appasamy Vengatesan, Suresh Sakharam Jadhav, Prasad Suryakant Kulkarni, Sadras Panchatcharam Thyagarajan
Vijayakumar Velu, Shanmugam Saravanan, Subhadra Nandakumar, Esaki Muthu Shankar, Sadras Panchatcharam Thyagarajan, Department of Medical Microbiology, Dr ALM PGIBMS, University of Madras, Chennai 600113 and National Referral Centre for Viral Hepatitis, India
Vijayakumar Velu, Vaccine Research Centre, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States
Sadras Panchatcharam Thyagarajan, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai 600113, India
Esaki Muthu Shankar, Sadras Panchatcharam Thyagarajan, Saravanan Shanmugam, the YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education, VHS campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India
Suresh Sakharam Jadhav, Prasad Suryakant Kulkarni, Serum Institute of India Ltd., Pune, India
Appasamy Vengatesan, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Stanley Medical College, Chennai 600001, Tamilnadu, India
Author contributions: Velu V, Thyagarajan SP, Kulkarni PS, Jadhav SS designed the experiments; Velu V, Kulkarni PS organized the figures and wrote the manuscript; Velu V, Saravanan S, Nandakumar S performed the research, analyzed the data; Shankar EM and Vengatesan A performed the statistical analysis.
Correspondence to: Dr. Vijayakumar Velu, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Madras, Chennai 600113, India. vvjai2000@yahoo.com
Telephone: +91-44-22542929
Fax: +91-44-2542939
Received: January 4, 2008
Revised: April 15, 2008
Accepted: April 22, 2008
Published online: June 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the cellular defects by analyzing the (Th1/Th2) cytokine levels in vaccine responders and non-responders.

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from responders and non-responders were stimulated with or with out recombinant HBsAg or PHA. Broad spectrum of cytokines viz (Th1) IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-12 and (Th2) IL-10, IL-4 were measured after in vitro stimulation with recombinant HBsAg and were compared with respective antibody titers.

RESULTS: A significant decrease (P = 0.001) in Th1 and Th2 cytokines namely, IL-2, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 in non-responders was observed. The level of IL-4 was not significant between the three groups. Furthermore, despite a strong Th1 and Th2 cytokine response, the level of IL-12 was elevated in high-responders compared to other groups (P = 0.001) and demonstrated a positive correlation with anti-HBs titers and Th1 cytokine response.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that unresponsiveness to recombinant hepatitis B vaccines (rHB) is multifactorial, including specific failure of antigen presentation or the lack of both T helper Th1 and Th2 response.

Keywords: Hepatitis B vaccine; Cytokines; Humoral response; T cell response; Adult vaccines