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Th2-polarisation of cellular immune memory to neonatal pertussis vaccination

Olivia J White1, Julie Rowe, Peter Richmond

  • 1Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, and Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Vaccine
|January 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal pertussis vaccination elicits earlier antibody responses but may skew T-cell memory towards a Th2 bias. Further research is needed to assess the clinical impact of early acellular pertussis (aP) vaccination in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Current infant pertussis vaccination (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis - DTaP) is administered at 2, 4, and 6 months.
  • Early infant protection via neonatal vaccination is being explored.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential Th2-biased T-cell responses with early pertussis vaccination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the immunological impact of neonatal vaccination with a monovalent acellular pertussis vaccine (aP).
  • To compare Th-cell memory profiles and antibody responses in infants receiving early aP vaccination versus standard DTaP schedules.

Main Methods:

  • A pilot study compared infants receiving aP at birth or birth and 1 month, followed by DTaP, against a control group receiving DTaP from 2 months.
  • Pertussis-specific IgG levels were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months.
  • In vitro Th-memory responses were assessed at 8 months.

Main Results:

  • Neonatal aP vaccination led to earlier pertussis-specific IgG responses.
  • Th-memory profiles in neonatally vaccinated infants showed a significant Th2 bias, indicated by high IL-5 and IL-13 production.
  • The study involved a small number of infants.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal vaccination with aP can induce earlier antibody responses.
  • Early pertussis vaccination may result in a Th2-polarized T-cell memory response.
  • Larger trials are necessary to investigate the correlation between these T-cell profiles and clinical outcomes in neonatal aP vaccine studies.

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