Hepatitis B vaccine non-response and occult hepatitis B virus infection

Aims: Low levels of HBV DNA can remain detectable after serological recovery from Hep. B. This so called occult HBV infection is thought to maintain HBV-specific T-cell responses witch in turn is preventing HBV reactivation. However HCV-specific CTLs may also target B-cells presenting HBV antigens and thereby inhibiting the production of antibodies. In mouse models it has been shown that this mechanism can lead to an impaired humeral immune response. Aims: We here hypothesized that non-response to HBV-vaccination could be linked to occult hepatitis B virus infection via HBV-specific T-cell responses targeting B-…