[Comparison of the kinesis of immune responses in mice vaccinated by different kinds of recombinant hepatitis B vaccines].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the kinesis of cellular and humoral immune responses to different kinds of recombinant hepatitis B(rHB) vaccines in the immunized mice.

METHODS

At serial time points, the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 secreted by spleens mononuclear cells (MNC) of the vaccinated mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunospot methods (ELISPOT) after stimulation in vitro with HBsAg MHC class I peptide S28-39 or HBsAg. The lymphocytotoxicity of the immunized mice were also detected (CTL) by a specific lysis assay and the levels of anti-HBs were measured by the Abbott IMX kit.

RESULTS

The peak values of IFN-gamma and IL-2 in vaccinated mice were detected by ELISPOT, 10 - 14 days after immunization. The CTL and the level of IFN-gamma induced by rHB vaccine derived from yeast cells (Hansenula polymorpha) (rHP vaccine) were significantly higher than the other two vaccines (P < 0.05). The maximum lysis of CTL appeared in the vaccinated mice on day 10 after immunization, with the percentage of 39.8%. The levels of IL-2 induced by rHP vaccine were significantly higher than the other two vaccines (P < 0.05). However, the IL-2 levels in the rSC (saccharomyces cerevisiae) vaccine group were higher as compared with the rCHO vaccine group at day 7 and day 14 (7 d t = 4.595, P = 0.001 < 0.05; 14 d t = 5.721, P = 0.000 < 0.05) after immunization. The cellular immune response to the rHP vaccine was the strongest while it was the lowest to the rCHO vaccine at day 7 after immunization. The sero-positive rates and the titers of anti-HBs in the vaccinated mice increased with time after vaccination. The titers of anti-HBs in the rCHO vaccine group at day 7 were similar to the rSC vaccine group, but significantly higher than that of the rHP vaccine group (P = 0.044 < 0.05). The anti-HBs titers of the rCHO vaccine group at day 14 were significantly higher as compared to the rSC (P = 0.012 < 0.05) and rHP (P = 0.009 < 0.05) vaccine groups.

CONCLUSION

The immune responses induced by the three kinds of rHB vaccines were different in their patterns and levels. According to the intensity of early cellular immune response, the two yeast HB vaccines were superior to the rCHO vaccine, especially to the rHP vaccine. In contrast, the rCHO vaccine induced early seroconversion and high levels of anti-HBs.