[Prevention of hepatitis B--HLA DR/DQ in HBs Ag nonresponder]

To evaluate the immunological background in HBs Ag nonresponders against hepatitis B vaccine, the lymphocyte surface marker and HLA-DR/DQ antigen were determined on hospital personnel, 70 males and 256 females, injected hepatitis B vaccine for three times. The vaccine made from the plasma of HBs Ag carriers was injected at the first and second vaccination and recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was injected at the third vaccination. A month after the third vaccination, blood was withdrawn for HBs antigen test by RIA. Border line cases (cut off index 1.0-1.9) are included in nonresponder (cut off index less than 0.9). Both nonresponders and low responders (cut off index 2-49) are more often seen in males than females and high responder (cut off index 50 or more) are seen more often in young females than males. Lymphocyte surface markers were studied by flow cytometry using the following monoclonal antibodies; OKT 3, 4, 8, DR, NK, Ia 1 and B7. No differences between lymphocyte surface markers of nonresponders and responders were noted. HLA-DR/DQ antigens were studied by the cytotoxicity test using Locus DR/DQ, Terasaki Second DR W-60 Tray and using following antibodies; DR 1, DR 2, DRW 15, DR 4, DR 5, DR 7, DR 9, DRW 10, DRW 8, DRW 12, DRW 13, DRW 6, DRW 52, DRW 53, DQW 1, DQW 6, DQW 2, DQW 3, DQW 7 and DQW 4. No significant differences between HLA-DR/DQ of nonresponders and responders were noted.