Relationship between Th1 and Th2 cytokine serum levels and immune response to Hepatitis B vaccination among Egyptian health care workers

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination leads to both humoral and cellular immune responses and results in protecting levels of specific antibodies. The immune response to the vaccine and production of T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines vary among the individuals. Thus we aimed to investigate the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine serum levels and antibody production after HBV vaccination, hoping to improve the effectiveness of vaccination. A total of 90 health care workers had been vaccinated with triple doses of HB vaccine at 0, 1, and 6 months intervals. Two months after the third dose, anti-HBs titer, interferon gamma (INF-γ), and interleukin (IL)-13 serum levels were measured. There were 16 low-responders (anti-HBs = 10-150 IU/L), 41 moderate-responders (anti-HBs> 150< 1000 IU/L), and 33 high-responders (anti-HBs = 1000 IU/L). IFN-γ and IL-13 serum levels showed significant positive correlation with anti-HBs titer. We concluded that, decreased serum level of IFN-γ (Th1 cytokine) and IL-13 (Th2 cytokine) was associated with diminished production of anti-HBs antibodies after HB vaccination, suggesting that IFN-γ and IL-13 could play a significant role in the immune response to HB vaccination and could be used as vaccine adjuvants.

The Association Between Vaccine Response and sCD30 Level in Patients Using Immunomodulator Drugs and Having Received Hepatitis B Vaccination

“…It can be speculated that sCD30 may be more related to nonresponsiveness rather than responsiveness. Although some studies have reported inadequacy of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in non-responders, Larsen et al have reported that poor responders produce primarily Th2 cytokines similar to our results [22,26] . These different results may depend on different technical methods (in vivo and in vitro cytokine measurement) and the demographics of the study groups, but may also be interpreted as sCD30 plays an essential role in the balance of Th1/Th2 response rather than being a marker of Th2 considering all of the mentioned studies.…”

“…Various factors affecting response to HBV vaccine, other than immunologic factors have been investigated to understand the ethiogenesis of non-responsiveness so far for enhancing the HBV vaccine efficacy [5] . Since esponse to HBV vaccine is related to antibody level, Th cells presenting HBsAg have been the most emphasized subjects [22] . Th cells are divided into Th1 and Th2 cells based on the types of secreted cytokine.…”

“…Th cells are divided into Th1 and Th2 cells based on the types of secreted cytokine. Some studies have been designed to investigate the role of Th1 and Th2 functions in the immune response to HBV vaccine [6,22] . In non-responders, low levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines has been detected [6] .…”

Cross-Sectional Association of Urinary Bisphenol A and Vaccine-Induced Immunity against Hepatitis B Virus: Data from the 2003–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…In line with this theory, some studies have revealed that high responders to the HBV vaccine have significantly higher levels of Th1 cytokines, Il-2 and IFN-γ, and Th2 cytokines, Il-10 and Il-13, than did non-responders [46,47]. A recent study on participants vaccinated with HBV vaccines also reported that the levels of IFN-γ, a Th1 cytokine, and Il-13, a Th2 cytokine, are positively correlated with the anti-HBs titer [48]. Hence, the decrease in the levels of IFN-γ [17], Il-10, and Il-13 [18] observed upon the BPA treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicate that BPA suppresses both Th1-and Th2-type immune responses for antibody formation, resulting in low anti-HBs titers.…”

Correlation between serum Hcy level and severity of chronic HBV hepatitis

“…The pathogenesis of hepatitis B is an inflammation mediated by immune over-expression, mainly the imbalance between Thl/Th2 [9,10]. The damage of hepatic tissue is due to the immune system being sensitized by HBV, which stimulates the immune system, participates in host immune defense response, and produces corresponding antibodies and/or cellular non-specific immune response [11][12][13][14].…”