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HLA-DPB1 and anti-HBs titer kinetics in hepatitis B booster recipients who completed primary hepatitis B vaccination during infancy

Genes & Immunity volume 15, pages 47–53 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Previously we reported significant associations of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPB1 05:01 with memory against hepatitis B (HB) vaccination. However, the effects of HLA-DPB1 on antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) kinetics were not explored. We followed up a cohort of 1974 HB booster recipients and quantified their 1-month and 1-year post-booster anti-HBs titers. A total of 681 subjects were randomly selected and typed for HLA-DPB1. We found that male subjects, undetectable pre-booster titers, and 05:01 homozygotes led to significantly lower post-booster anti-HBs titers. The geometric means (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 1-month post-booster anti-HBs titers were 4.68 (2.69–8.12), 23.01 (14.96–35.40) and 50.06 (27.20–92.13) mIU ml−1 for subjects carrying two, one and no HLA-DPB1 05:01 allele. The corresponding figures for 1-year post-booster anti-HBs titers were 1.26 (0.73–2.18), 4.72 (3.08–7.25) and 7.32 (3.75–13.56) mIU ml−1. There were significant associations of post-booster anti-HBs titers with the number of HLA-DPB1 risk and protective alleles. Among booster responders, anti-HBs decay rates were significantly reduced in subjects who had detectable pre-booster anti-HBs titers and the HLA-DPB1 05:01 allele. Our results indicated that HLA-DPB1 influences the kinetics of anti-HBs. The long-term memory against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the residual serum titers of anti-HBs after HB vaccination may be influenced by different mechanisms as evidenced by their inverse trend of associations with the 05:01 allele.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of senior high schools and health stations in Hualien County and the Center of Disease Control, the Department of Health, Taiwan, for their valuable contribution. This research was supported by grants from the Mackay Medical College (981B03 & 991A01) and the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC97-2314-B-715-001-MY3). The funding agencies played no role in the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    T-W Wu & L-Y Wang

  2. Medical Research Department, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan

    C-C Chu

  3. Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan

    C-C Chu

  4. Institute of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan

    H-W Chang Liao, S-K Lin, T-Y Ho & L-Y Wang

  5. Medical Research Department, Transfusion Medicine Laboratory, Mackay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    M Lin

  6. Department of Gastroenterology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    H H Lin

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan

    H H Lin

  8. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    L-Y Wang

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Wu, TW., Chu, CC., Chang Liao, HW. et al. HLA-DPB1 and anti-HBs titer kinetics in hepatitis B booster recipients who completed primary hepatitis B vaccination during infancy. Genes Immun 15, 47–53 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2013.62

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