Importance of HBsAg recognition by HLA molecules as revealed by responsiveness to different hepatitis B vaccines

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 2;11(1):3703. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82986-8.

Abstract

Hepatitis B (HB) vaccines (Heptavax-II and Bimmugen) designed based on HBV genotypes A and C are mainly used for vaccination against HB in Japan. To determine whether there are differences in the genetic background associated with vaccine responsiveness, genome-wide association studies were performed on 555 Heptavax-II and 1193 Bimmugen recipients. Further HLA imputation and detailed analysis of the association with HLA genes showed that two haplotypes, DRB1*13:02-DQB1*06:04 and DRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01, were significantly associated in comparison with high-responders (HBsAb > 100 mIU/mL) for the two HB vaccines. In particular, HLA-DRB1*13:02-DQB1*06:04 haplotype is of great interest in the sense that it could only be detected by direct analysis of the high-responders in vaccination with Heptavax-II or Bimmugen. Compared with healthy controls, DRB1*13:02-DQB1*06:04 was significantly less frequent in high-responders when vaccinated with Heptavax-II, indicating that high antibody titers were less likely to be obtained with Heptavax-II. As Bimmugen and Heptavax-II tended to have high and low vaccine responses to DRB1*13:02, 15 residues were found in the Heptavax-II-derived antigenic peptide predicted to have the most unstable HLA-peptide binding. Further functional analysis of selected hepatitis B patients with HLA haplotypes identified in this study is expected to lead to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying liver disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / blood
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains / genetics
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains / immunology
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains / genetics*
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains / immunology
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Hepatitis B / blood
  • Hepatitis B / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / genetics
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Heptavax B