Correlation of Peripheral Blood Tfh Cells and IL-21 Level with Serum Hepatitis B Surface Antibody after Hepatitis B Vaccination

ZENG Yun; DANG Yajun; LI Li

doi:10.3639/i.issn.2095-3097.2025.01.014

Abstract：Objective To explore the correlation of peripheral T helper cells(Tfh cells)and interleukin-21(IL-21)with serum hepatitis B surface antibody(HBsAb)after hepatitis B vaccination,aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the role of Tfh cells in generating immune responses following vaccination.Methods Individuals who received hepatitis B vaccine in the Disease Control and Prevention of Weinan City from January 2023 to January 2024 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects.According to the antibody response level,100 patients with HBsAb>100 IU/L were included in the high response group,and 100 patients with HBsAb≤100 IU/L were included in the low response group.The general information,HBsAb,Tfh cells and IL-21 levels were compared between groups.The correlation of Tfh cells and IL-21 with HBsAb was explored by the Spearman correlation analysis.The predictive value of the expression levels of Tfh cells and IL-21 in the antibody response level to hepatitis B vaccine was explored through the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results There were no significant differences in the age,gender,body mass index(BMI),household registration type and hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection status of family members between the low response and high response groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the HBsAb level before vaccination between the two groups(P>0.05).Eight weeks after vaccination,the HBsAb level significantly increased in both groups,which was significantly lower in the low response group than the high response group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the Tfh cells and IL-21 level before vaccination between the low response and high response groups(P>0.05).Eight weeks after vaccination,Thf cells and IL-21 level significantly increased in both groups,which were significantly lower in the low response group than the high response group(P<0.05).Correlation analysis Results showed that Tfh cells and IL-21 level were positively correlated with HBsAb level(r=0.369 and 0.354,respectively;both P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of a combined detection of Tfh cells and IL-21 level in predicting serum antibody response level was 0.741,with the sensitivity of 0.7500,and the specificity of 0.8200.Conclusion The proportion of peripheral Tfh cells and IL-21 level are positively correlated with serum HBsAb level after hepatitis B vaccination,suggesting the important roles of Tfh cells and released cytokine in inducing immune response following hepatitis B vaccination.