Are International Units of Anti-HBs Antibodies Always Indicative of Hepatitis B Virus Neutralizing Activity?

Bibliographic Details
Title: Are International Units of Anti-HBs Antibodies Always Indicative of Hepatitis B Virus Neutralizing Activity?
Authors: Yada Aronthippaitoon, Nathan Szerman, Nicole Ngo-Giang-Huong, Syria Laperche, Marie-Noelle Ungeheuer, Camille Sureau, Woottichai Khamduang, Catherine Gaudy-Graffin
Source: Vaccines, Vol 11, Iss 4, p 791 (2023)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Medicine
Subject Terms: HBV vaccine, anti-HBs international units, anti-HBs neutralizing activity, HBV infectivity neutralization, Medicine
More Details: Objective: Anti-HBs antibodies are elicited upon hepatitis B vaccination, and concentrations above 10 mIU/mL are considered protective. Our aim was to assess the relationship between IU/mL of anti-HBs and neutralization activity. Methods: Immunoglobulins G (IgGs) were purified from individuals who received a serum-derived vaccine (Group 1), a recombinant vaccine, Genevac-B or Engerix-B (Group 2), or who recovered from acute infection (Group 3). IgGs were tested for anti-HBs, anti-preS1, and anti-preS2 antibodies and for their neutralizing activity in an in vitro infection assay. Results: Anti-HBs IUs/mL value did not strictly correlate with neutralization activity. The Group 1 antibodies demonstrated a greater neutralizing activity than those of Group 2. Anti-preS1 antibodies were detected in Groups 1 and 3, and anti-preS2 in Group 1 and Group 2/Genhevac-B, but the contribution of anti-preS antibodies to neutralization could not be demonstrated. Virions bearing immune escape HBsAg variants were less susceptible to neutralization than wild-type virions. Conclusion. The level of anti-HBs antibodies in IUs is not sufficient to assess neutralizing activity. Consequently, (i) an in vitro neutralization assay should be included in the quality control procedures of antibody preparations intended for HB prophylaxis or immunotherapy, and (ii) a greater emphasis should be placed on ensuring that vaccine genotype/subtype matches with that of the circulating HBV.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2076-393X
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/4/791; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-393X
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040791
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/00c837484ea4427288ad4f52f7bea3bc
Accession Number: edsdoj.00c837484ea4427288ad4f52f7bea3bc
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2076393X
DOI:10.3390/vaccines11040791
Published in:Vaccines
Language:English