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

C Tian, Y Chen, Y Liu, S Wang, Y Li… - Emerging Microbes & …, 2018 - Taylor & Francis
C Tian, Y Chen, Y Liu, S Wang, Y Li, G Wang, J Xia, X Zhao, R Huang, S Lu, C Wu
Emerging Microbes & Infections, 2018Taylor & Francis
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 …
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.
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