IL-1beta gene polymorphisms influence hepatitis B vaccination

IL-1beta gene polymorphisms influence hepatitis B vaccination.Yucesoy B, Sleijffers A, Kashon M, Garssen J, de Gruijl FR, Boland GJ, van Hattum J, Simeonova PP, Luster MI, van Loveren H.National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA.Considerable variability exists in the vaccine response to hepatitis B with 5-10% of healthy young adults demonstrating no or inadequate responses following a standard vaccination schedule. As the interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) cytokine has been shown to be important in the development of immune responses, we determined whether vaccine efficacy is influenced by genetic polymorphisms associated with IL-1beta expression. Ninety-two healthy individuals who were negative for antibodies to hepatitis B antigen (anti-HBs) were vaccinated against hepatitis B according to a standardized schedule. At selected times, antibody titers and lymphoproliferative capacity to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were determined. DNA genotyping for IL-1beta polymorphisms using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique demonstrated that both the anti-HBs titer and the T-cell lymphoproliferative response to HBsAg are significantly increased in individuals possessing the IL-1beta (+3953) minor allelic variant. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Lt