Effects of hepatitis A vaccination on atherogenesis in a murine model

Our laboratory demonstrated that seropositivity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) independently predicts risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). As these findings are based only on the presence of HAV-specific antibodies, and not infectious virus, this prompted questions regarding possible effects of HAV vaccines on CAD development. If seropositivity to HAV alone, resulting from HAV vaccination, leads to increased atherogenesis, this raises important issues regarding the benefit of protection against HAV infection vs the risk of developing CAD. This study examines the effect of HAV vaccination on atherosclerosis development in a cholesterol-fed mouse model. Animals either received HAV vaccine, adjuvant, or saline. After 15 weeks, no significant differences were found in lesion area between the groups: HAV vaccine, 13,470 microm2; adjuvant, 16,332 microm2 and saline, 14,356 microm2. Only animals receiving HAV vaccination developed HAV-specific IgG. Thus, in this mouse model, vaccination against HAV does not contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.