Exploring the influence of maternally derived antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen on infants’ immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in mice

Background: Whether maternal anti-HBs acquired transplacentally plays a negative role in newborn infants’ immune response to hepatitis B vaccine (HepB Vac), it remains controversial and has not been paid enough attention.Methods: 267 BALB/c mice were bred. All mice were divided into two groups according to different doses of HepB Vac (2μg, 5μg) injected to mice. Each group was sub-divided into three subgroups according to different doses of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) (50 IU, 25 IU, 0 IU) injected combined with the first dose of HepB Vac. Three doses of HepB Vac were administrated at 0 week, 4week and 8 week respectively. Antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) were tested four weeks after the third dose of HepB Vac.Results: Among 267 mice, 40 were of low- and non-response to HepB Vac (anti-HBs<100 mIU/mL). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rates of anti-HBs<100 mIU/mL were: 1.1%, 23.1% and 20.7% in groups of HBIG=0 IU(1), HBIG=25 IU(2) and HBIG=50 IU(3) respectively, p = 0.002, and among subgroups, (1) vs (3), RR= 0.032, 95% CI [0.004, 0.255], p = 0.001, (2) vs (3), RR= 1.359, 95% CI [0.588, 3.144], p = 0.473; 4.5% and 25.6% in groups of HepB Vac 5μg and 2μg, RR=0.093, 95% CI [0.035, 0.250], p <0.001; 6.1% and 23.7% in groups of intramuscular injection and hypodermic injection, RR=0.139, 95% CI [0.056, 0.346], p <0.001. The mean titers of anti-HBs (log10mIU/m) were on the decrease in turn in groups of HBIG= 0 IU, HBIG= 25 IU and HBIG= 50 IU, p <0.001.Conclusions: HBIG has a negative impact on both the rate of effective immune response and response level of anti-HBs, which preliminarily indicates maternal anti-HBs inhibits infants’ immune response to HepB Vac.