Hepatitis B vaccine-specific CD4(+) T cells can be detected and characterised at the single cell level: limited usefulness of dendritic cells as signal enhancers

J Immunol Methods. 2008 Jan 31;330(1-2):1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.10.013. Epub 2007 Nov 21.

Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-specific T cells were analysed in 16 healthy individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B, using optimised protocols. HBsAg-specific IFN-gamma producing CD4(+) T cells were found at a similar low frequency (0.01%) within the naive T cell subset, the central and the effector memory T cell subset. Overall, HBsAg-specific total CD4(+) T cells were detected in approximately 81% of the HBV vaccinees. The use of dendritic cells substantially increased the otherwise low proliferative responses but not the percentage of IFN-gamma producing cells. The analysis of readily detectable CMV-specific CD4(+) T cell responses was used as a positive control and confirmed the adequacy of our assays. T cell responses associated with (in-) adequate hepatitis B vaccination can now be analysed in more detail.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reference Values
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Time Factors
  • Vaccination*

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Interferon-gamma