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Cellular immune responses of preterm infants after vaccination with whole-cell or acellular pertussis vaccines

Françoise Vermeulen1, Virginie Verscheure, Eliane Damis

  • 1Pediatric Department, Laboratory of Vaccinology and Mucosal Immunity, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Brussels, Belgium.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI
|December 18, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough) can mount effective T-cell immune responses, similar to full-term infants. This cellular immunity is crucial for protection against Bordetella pertussis infection.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Current pertussis vaccination schedules for preterm infants rely on antibody titers.
  • Cellular immune responses, specifically T-cell mediated immunity, are also vital for protection against Bordetella pertussis.
  • The ability of highly preterm infants to develop these T-cell responses post-vaccination is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular immune responses in highly preterm infants (<31 weeks) following pertussis vaccination.
  • To compare the T-cell responses induced by acellular (Pa) versus whole-cell (Pw) pertussis vaccines in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Forty-eight preterm infants (<31 weeks) received a tetravalent diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-polio vaccine (either acellular or whole-cell) at 2, 3, and 4 months of chronological age.
  • Blood samples were collected at 2, 3, and 6 months of age to assess immune responses.
  • Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and cytokine (IL-5, IL-13) secretion in response to B. pertussis antigens were measured.

Main Results:

  • Most preterm infants in both vaccination groups (Pa and Pw) developed an IFN-γ response to B. pertussis antigens by 3 or 6 months of age.
  • Infants vaccinated with the acellular pertussis vaccine also showed interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) secretion.
  • No significant association was found between low birth weight, severe infections, corticosteroid treatment, or gammaglobulin administration and reduced IFN-γ secretion.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants, similar to full-term infants, demonstrate the capacity to mount a specific cellular immune response after receiving initial doses of pertussis vaccines (acellular or whole-cell).
  • The study supports the current chronological age-based vaccination strategy for preterm infants, highlighting their ability to develop cellular immunity against pertussis.

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