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Journal article

Host genetic factors and vaccine-induced immunity to hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract:
Background: Vaccination against hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is safe and effective; however, vaccine-induced antibody level wanes over time. Peak vaccine-induced anti-HBs level is directly related to antibody decay, as well as risk of infection and persistent carriage despite vaccination. We investigated the role of host genetic factors in long-term immunity against HBV infection based on peak anti-HBs level and seroconversion to anti-HBc. Methods: We analyzed 715 SNP across 133 candidate genes in 662 infant vaccinees from The Gambia, assessing peak vaccine-induced anti-HBs level and core antibody (anti-HBc) status, whilst adjusting for covariates. A replication study comprised 43 SNPs in a further 393 individuals. Results: In our initial screen we found variation in IFNG, MAPK8, and IL10RA to affect peak anti-HBs level (GMTratio of <0.6 or >1.5 and P≤0.001) and lesser associations in other genes. Odds of core-conversion was associated with variation in CD163. A coding change in ITGAL (R719V) with likely functional relevance showed evidence of association with increased peak anti-HBs level in both screens (1st screen: s595_22 GMTratio 1.71, P = 0.013; 2nd screen: s595_22 GMTratio 2.15, P = 0.011). Conclusion: This is to our knowledge the largest study to date assessing genetic determinants of HBV vaccine-induced immunity. We report on associations with anti-HBs level, which is directly related to durability of antibody level and predictive of vaccine efficacy long-term. A coding change in ITGAL, which plays a central role in immune cell interaction, was shown to exert beneficial effects on induction of peak antibody level in response to HBV vaccination. Variation in this gene does not appear to have been studied in relation to immune responses to viral or vaccine challenges previously. Our findings suggest that genetic variation in loci other than the HLA region affect immunity induced by HBV vaccination.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Institution:
"London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine", "University of Oxford"
Department:
Medical Sciences Division - Clinical Medicine,Nuffield Department of - Human Genetics,Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
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Author
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Institution:
"London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine"
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Author
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDM
Sub department:
Human Genetics Wt Centre
Role:
Author
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Institution:
"Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, The Gambia"
Role:
Author
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Institution:
"Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, The Gambia"
Role:
Author


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Funding agency for:
Hennig, B


Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Journal:
PLoS ONE More from this journal
Volume:
3
Issue:
3
Article number:
e1898
Publication date:
2008-03-01
Edition:
Publisher's version
DOI:
EISSN:
1932-6203


Language:
English
Keywords:
Subjects:
UUID:
uuid:0f3f2087-ecd3-4cf5-ad4d-3262980e7677
Local pid:
ora:2381
Deposit date:
2008-10-10
ARK identifier:

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