Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytokine genes on anti-HBs antibody production after hepatitis B vaccination in a Japanese young adult population

Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination is one of the most efficient tools to prevent the transmission of the virus. Considerable variability exists in HB vaccine responses, with 5-10% of healthy Japanese adults demonstrating no response following a standard vaccination. Recently, polymorphisms of immune-regulatory genes, such as cytokine genes, have been reported to influence the immune response to HB vaccine. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the genetic association between several cytokine gene polymorphisms and the immune response to HB vaccination in a Japanese population. One hundred and twenty three vaccinated young adults were classified according to the level of antibody-titer (anti-HBs). Single nucleotide polymorphism typing for IFN-γ(+874, 3’-UTR), IL-10 (−591, −819, −1082), and TNF-α(−308, −857), was accomplished using the PCR-RFLP or SSP-PCR method. The TNF-α(−857) CC type and the IL-10 (−1082) AG type were present more frequently in the low titer group than in the high titer group. The TNF-α(−857) CC type was found to be significantly associated with low response of serum anti-HBs. The anti-HBs antibody was not readily produced in the IL-10 (−1082) AG and TNF-α(−857) CC haplotype. Conversely, the antibody was readily produced in the IL-10 (−1082) AA and TNF-α(−857) CC haplotype, and the IL-10 (−1082) AA and TNF-α(−857) CT haplotype, suggesting a high likelihood of the IL-10 (−1082) AG type to be included in the low anti-HBs group, and high anti-HBs antibody production in those with the TNF-α(−857) CT type. These SNPs may produce ethnically-specific differences in the immune response to HB vaccine in the Japanese population.