Relationship between T-lymphocyte cytokine levels and sero-response to hepatitis B vaccines

Table 1 Levels of cytokines secreted in vitro from PBMC of high, hypo and non-responder adults following stimulation with HBsAg

Cytokines/units	Stimulations	High-responders	Hypo-responders	Non-responders	P value	Multiple comparison2
IFN-γ (U/mL)	HBsAg	18 ± 5.3	13.4 ± 5.6	6.8 ± 3.6	0.0011	Ns vs Hy vs Hi
IL-2 (U/mL)	HBsAg	15.9 ± 5.5	8.4 ± 1.6	5.1 ± 1.8	0.0011	Ns vs Hi
TNF-α (pg/mL)	HBsAg	201.5 ± 86.9	64.8 ± 49.0	21.4 ± 4.5	0.0011	Ns vs Hi
IL-12 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	512.8 ± 213.6	117.6 ± 58.2	23.8 ± 7.6	0.0011	Ns vs Hi
IL-10 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	260.8 ± 128.8	60 ± 49.7	47 ± 38.7	0.0011	Ns vs Hi
IL-4 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	83.2 ± 72.3	62.8 ± 44.4	49.2 ± 39.9	-	Not significant

¹Significant; Test of significance was One way ANOVA F-test;

²Multiple comparison by Bonferroni t-test.

Table 2 Comparison of cytokine levels secreted after in vitro stimulation with HBsAg and PHA

Cytokines	Stimulation	High-responders	Hypo-responders	Non-responders
IFN-γ (U/mL)	HBsAg	18+ ± 5.3	13.4+ ± 5.6	6.8 ± 3.6
	PHA	21.2 ± 5.0	21.9 ± 2.8	18 ± 3.8
	P	0.19	0.001	0.001
IL-2 (U/mL)	HBsAg	15.9 ± 5.5	8.4 ± 1.6	5.1 ± 1.8
	PHA	19.8 ± 2.3	19 ± 3	16.8 ± 3.4
	P	0.06	0.001	0.001
TNF-α (pg/mL)	HBsAg	201.5 ± 86.9	64.8 ± 49.01	21.4 ± 4.5
	PHA	680.2 ± 138.4	626.4 ± 168.6	621.8 ± 198.7
	P	0.001	0.001	0.001
IL-12 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	512.8 ± 213.6	117.6 ± 58.2	23.8 ± 7.6
	PHA	611.3 ± 140.0	597.7 ± 141.8	491 ± 130.76
	P	0.24	0.001	0.001
IL-10 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	260.8 ± 128.8	60 ± 49.7	47 ± 38.7
	PHA	651.6 ± 132.07	606 ± 165.88	519.1 ± 152.2
	P	0.001	0.001	0.001
IL-4 (pg/mL)	HBsAg	83.2 ± 72.3	62.8 ± 44.4	49.2 ± 39.9
	PHA	610 ± 135.63	607.9 ± 163.4	569 ± 109.34
	P	0.001	0.001	0.001

Test of significance was student independent t test.