Application of PPD in the Formulation of Commercial Hepatitis B ‎Vaccine to Improve Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses

Aims: Vaccination with the HBs Ag vaccine formulated in the alum adjuvant prevents hepatitis B infection. Adjuvants increase the efficacy of vaccines. Mycobacterium purified protein derivative (PPD) causes dendritic cell maturation. Considering the role of dendritic cells in the induction of immune responses, the aim of present study was to investigate of application of PPD in the formulation of Commercial Hepatitis B vaccine to improve humoral and cellular immune responses.
In this experimental study, 63 balb/C mice of inbred were divided into 7 groups of 9. The Hepatitis B vaccine with doses of 1 and 10μg of PPD was injected subcutaneously into HBS-ALUM, HBS-ALUM㳰μg, HBS-ALUM㳰μg and proper control groups, three times with two-week intervals. Total IgG in serum samples and IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines levels and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in spleen cell culture were assessed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance by Graf pad prism 6.1 software.
Findings: Using PPD in the formulation of HBs vaccine had no effect on IFN-γ cytokine levels but reduced IL-4 and also increased the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio compared to the commercial vaccine. Also PPD application in HBs vaccine after the first injection enhanced the humoral response, but after the second injection was ineffective so that after the third injection reduced the antibody response compared to the commercial vaccine.
PPD in the formulation of hepatitis B vaccine can lead the immune response pattern to the T helper cells 1 (Th1). The first injection enhances the antibody response but after third injection suppressed humoral immunity system.