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Plasma-derived HBV vaccine induces long-term protection
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Data recently published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases suggested that plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccination could provide cellular immunity for as long as 32 years, despite the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen.
“Although studies show a high response rate to primary vaccination in infants, children and adults … duration of protection by [HBV] vaccine is not completely understood,” the researchers wrote. “Since implementation of universal hepatitis B vaccination in the United States a significant proportion of persons vaccinated at birth lose [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) by adulthood or earlier.”
To further clarify the duration of protection, the researchers evaluated a cohort of 44 healthy adults with no recent immune-suppressive therapies or diabetes who had received plasma-derived HBV vaccination 32 years earlier in 1981. Participants were placed into subgroups dependent on whether they demonstrated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) titers less than (n =13) or at least 10 mIU/mL (n = 31). Along with serology testing for HBsAb and microRNA-155, the researchers used ELISpot and cytometric bead array to observe any lasting hepatitis B-specific T-cell responses.
They found that, regardless of HBsAb subgroup, all participants indicated positive hepatitis B surface antigen-specific T cell, TNF-alpha, IL-10 or IL-6 responses. As expected, natural killer T cells were more common in the high HBsAb titer subgroup and were directly correlated with antibody levels. However, while the proportion of participants in either group with T-cell responses to hepatitis B core antigen fluctuated between each cytokine, no evidence of breakthrough HBV infection was seen within the cohort. According to the researchers, this finding would suggest the participants were exposed to HBV, but had long-lasting cellular immunity granted by the vaccine.
“This study demonstrates long-lasting hepatitis B-specific cellular immunity despite loss of anti-HBs,” they wrote. “Performance of similar studies among persons at a higher risk for losing [HBsAb] levels earlier in time are needed, including those immunized starting at birth. Expanding our understanding of long-term hepatitis B vaccine success may help develop tools for confirmation of protection against HBV that help conserve health care resources.” – by Dave Muoio
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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