Is hepatitis-B immunization effective during chronic liver fibrosis? Investigation of secretory and cellular immune responses on an experimental model

Abstract

Objective

Adults with end-stage of chronic liver diseases have lower antibody titers after hepatitis-B vaccination. We have less amount of knowledge about the effect of non-viral cause chronic liver fibrosis on vaccination. In this study, we investigated the effect of non-viral chronic liver fibrosis on hepatitis B vaccine and the effect of tetanous toxoid co-administration at the level of humoral and cellular immune responses in an experimental model.

Methods

Hepatitis B vaccine was administered either alone or in combination with tetanus toxoid in thioacetamide-induced fibrotic BALB/c mice. Fibrosis level was determined by Knodell scoring. Anti-HBsAg, biochemical parameters, inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α), and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine levels were investigated in serum samples by automated systems and ELISA; respectively. Frequencies of activated lymphocytes were determined in flow cytometer.

Results

Antibody titers significantly decreased after immunization of fibrotic mice. However, co-administration of toxoid significantly elevated antibody titer. The percentage of CD19⁺CD69⁺ B lymphocytes was found to be lower in vaccinated fibrotic group compared to vaccinated naive group. Simultaneous administration of toxoid significantly increased the frequencies of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing CD69 and CD127. Interestingly, CD19⁺CD5⁺CD1^high Breg cells were significantly reduced in the group vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine and toxoid, simultaneously. The reduction in Breg percentage did not expose a significant decrease in the level of IL-10.

Conclusion

Non-viral chronic liver fibrosis causes a reduction on specific antibody level after vaccination. Reduction on Breg cell frequency may have an effect on elevation of antibody level after co-administration of tetanus toxoid.

Keywords:

• Liver fibrosis
• vaccination
• toxoid
• antibody
• Breg

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08923973.2022.2126619).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the İnönü University Scientific Research Projects Unit under grant number 2016/137.