Immunological monitoring during therapeutic vaccination as a prerequisite for the design of new effective therapies: induction of a vaccine-specific CD4+ T-cell proliferative response in chronic hepatitis B carriers

Publication

Immunological monitoring during therapeutic vaccination as a prerequisite for the design of new effective therapies: induction of a vaccine-specific CD4+ T-cell proliferative response in chronic hepatitis B carriers

Journal Paper/Review - Oct 4, 2002

Jung Maria-Christina, Zeuzem Stefan, Trojan Jörg, Whitehead Eve, Birtles Emma, Bailey John, Page Mark, Schirren Carl-Albrecht, Diepolder Helmut, Gerlach Tilman, Schraut Winfried, Zachoval Reinhart, Grüner Norbert, Pape Gerd R

Units

Gastroenterology/Hepatology

PubMed

12297407

Citation

Jung M, Zeuzem S, Trojan J, Whitehead E, Birtles E, Bailey J, Page M, Schirren C, Diepolder H, Gerlach T, Schraut W, Zachoval R, Grüner N, Pape G. Immunological monitoring during therapeutic vaccination as a prerequisite for the design of new effective therapies: induction of a vaccine-specific CD4+ T-cell proliferative response in chronic hepatitis B carriers. Vaccine 2002; 20:3598-612.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Vaccine 2002; 20

Publication Date

Oct 4, 2002

Issn Print

0264-410X

Pages

3598-612

Brief description/objective

We characterized the anti-viral T-cell response in 22 chronically infected patients, who participated in a European multi-center randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study therapeutic vaccination trial with pre-S1, pre-S2 and S antigenic components of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It induced a significant HBsAg-specific T-cell proliferation and the production of Th2-cytokines (i.e. IL-5). A specific induction of Th1-lymphokines was not detectable although this has been demonstrated in this study in response to the nucleocapsid protein (HBcAg). Further analysis indicated that this approach does not activate HBV-specific CD8+ T-lymphocytes as detected by ELISPOT-assay. Our results might explain why a specific therapeutic vaccine, although safe and well-tolerated is not always able to break tolerance leading to the clearance of the hepatitis B virus.