Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
An Optimized Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Assay to Quantify Influenza-specific Antibody Titers
Published on: December 1, 2017
Humoral immune response to influenza vaccine in natalizumab-treated MS patients
Mattias Vågberg1, Urban Kumlin, Anders Svenningsson
1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neuroscience, Umeå University, Sweden. mattias.vagberg@gmail.com
Objectives:
Natalizumab is a drug with documented efficacy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The mechanism of action of natalizumab has immunosuppressive properties and it is not yet investigated if treatment with natalizumab affects the immunological response to vaccination. This study aims to investigate the humoral immune response to influenza vaccine while undergoing treatment with natalizumab.
Methods:
A cohort of 17 RRMS patients treated with natalizumab and 10 healthy controls received trivalent influenza A/B vaccine. Influenza-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were determined at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
Results:
Both groups experienced a significant increase in anti-influenza B IgG after the vaccination. Both groups also experienced a smaller increase in anti-influenza A IgG, but this was only significant for the natalizumab group. The IgG titers compared between the groups did not differ significantly at any of the time points.
Discussion:
These results indicate that vaccination against influenza in patients treated with natalizumab yields a humoral immune response comparable to that achieved in healthy individuals.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:36Humoral Immune Responses
01:51Vaccinations
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:23Immunological Memory
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature is...
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...