<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Koumbi, L.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bertoletti, A.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Anastasiadou, V.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Machaira, M.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Goh, W.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Papadopoulos, N. G.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kafetzis, D. A.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Papaevangelou, V.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hepatitis B-specific T helper cell responses in uninfected infants born to HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Cell Mol Immunol</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Case-Control Studies Female Hepatitis B Hepatitis B Surface Antigens Hepatitis B e Antigens Humans Infant</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Helper-Inducer</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Newborn Interferon-gamma Pregnancy T-Lymphocytes</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2010</style></year></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20657604</style></url></web-urls></urls><number><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></number><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">7</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">454-8</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vertically transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) usually causes chronic infection. While combined active-passive immunoprophylaxis in neonates of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg(+)) mothers at birth prevents vertical transmission, it is not yet clear whether neonates encounter the virus or its products in the absence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). This study was undertaken to investigate HBV antigen-specific T-cell responses in vaccinated neonates of HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(-) mothers. Blood was collected from 46 HBsAg(+) mothers and their neonates (subjects) as well as 24 age-matched controls. All neonates of HBsAg(+) mothers received appropriate immunoprophylaxis, and HBsAg and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) antibody titers were determined after completion of the vaccination course. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from infants at birth, 1 and 6 months of age were stimulated with recombinant HBsAg, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and mitogen, and interferon (IFN)-γ concentrations were determined by ELISA. HBsAg-induced production of IL-2, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 was assessed using a cytometric bead array kit on cells from 6-month-old neonates post-vaccination. All neonates were HBsAg(-) and responded to vaccination. Increased IFN-γ production following HBcAg stimulation was seen in 30.4% of neonates born to HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(-) mothers. Subjects demonstrated significantly higher IL-2 production post-HBsAg stimulation, whereas IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 cytokine responses were not significantly different. Almost one-third of uninfected neonates developed viral antigen-induced IFN-γ production, suggesting that they had been exposed to virions or viral derivatives. This encounter, however, did not impair their T-cell responses to vaccination.</style></abstract><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal Article</style></work-type></record></records></xml>