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Preterm infants' T cell responses to inactivated poliovirus vaccine
Nicola P Klein1, Hayley A Gans, Phillip Sung
1Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center, Oakland, California 94612, USA. Nicola.Klein@kp.org
Insights
Preterm infants show comparable poliovirus-specific T cell responses to term infants after vaccination. However, they exhibit functional T cell limitations, warranting further investigation into their immune development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Vaccinology
Background:
- T cell responses in preterm infants to immunization are not well understood.
- This study aimed to compare T cell responses in preterm and term infants post-inactivated poliovirus vaccination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the T cell responses of preterm infants with those of term infants following inactivated poliovirus vaccination.
- To assess both antigen-specific and nonspecific T cell functions and antibody responses.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 2-month-old preterm and term infants receiving three doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine.
- Analysis of whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for T cell activation via flow cytometry and lymphoproliferation.
- Measurement of poliovirus neutralizing antibody titers in infant serum.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants had fewer circulating memory T cells and activated CD4(+)CD69(+)IFN-gamma(+) cells at 2 and 7 months.
- Post-vaccination, poliovirus-specific memory T cell frequencies were comparable between groups.
- Preterm infants showed diminished poliovirus-specific lymphoproliferation and lower serotype 1 antibody titers, despite achieving seroprotective levels.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants develop comparable poliovirus-specific T cell responses to term infants post-vaccination.
- Preterm infants exhibit limitations in both nonspecific and poliovirus-specific T cell functions.
- Further research is needed to determine if these T cell differences persist as preterm infants mature.
Background:
The antigen-specific T cell responses of preterm infants to immunization are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to compare the T cell responses of preterm infants after inactivated poliovirus vaccination with those of term infants.
Methods:
We prospectively enrolled 2-month-old preterm (gestational age, 33 weeks) and term (gestational age, 37 weeks) infants to receive 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B virus-inactivated poliovirus vaccine. Whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with poliovirus vaccine, and memory T cell activation was analyzed by flow cytometry and lymphoproliferation, respectively. Levels of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies were measured in serum.
Results:
We enrolled 33 preterm and 50 term infants. Preterm infants had fewer circulating CD4(+)CD45RO(+) memory (P = .005) and CD4(+)CD69(+)IFN-gamma(+) cells activated by staphylococcus enterotoxin B at 2 (P = .015) and 7 (P = .05) months of age. After immunization, preterm and term infants had comparable frequencies of poliovirus-specific CD4(+)CD45RO(+)CD69(+)IFN-gamma(+) memory T cells (P = .79). PBMCs from preterm infants had diminished poliovirus-specific lymphoproliferation (P<.001). Although all infants developed seroprotective poliovirus antibody titers, serotype 1 titers were lower among preterm infants (P = .03).
Conclusions:
Preterm infants develop poliovirus-specific T cell responses that are comparable to those of term infants. However, they demonstrate nonspecific and poliovirus-specific functional T cell limitations, suggesting that investigations into whether T cell differences remain as preterm infants mature are warranted.
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