Use of ELISpot assay to study HBs-specific B cell responses in vaccinated and HBV infected humans

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018 Feb 16;7(1):16. doi: 10.1038/s41426-018-0034-0.

Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) plays a critical role in protecting against infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and were extensively studied in literature. At the same time, the status of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs)-specific B cells in both vaccinated and HBV infected people received limited attention. In the current study, we adopted a highly specific B-cell Enzyme Linked ImmunoSpot (ELISpot) assay to analyze HBs-specific B cells in various clinical settings: healthy individuals with the history of HBV vaccination before and after receiving an extra HBV vaccine boost, people chronically infected with HBV (CHB) in various clinical stages, with or without a particular type anti-viral treatment, or whether receiving a dose of HBV vaccine. In all of these cases, B-cell ELISpot assay was used effectively in enumerating the frequency of HBs-specific B cells. While the focus of the current report was to establish the utility of this assay for HBV research, a number of interesting observations were made in this pilot study based on the profiles and dynamics of HBs-specific B cells in various conditions. Such information is useful to guide the future work in designing novel therapeutic strategies against CHB.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay / methods*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / blood*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / genetics
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines