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Immune response to tetravalent meningococcal vaccine: opsonic and bactericidal functions of normal and properdin
C Söderström1, J H Braconier, H Käyhty
1Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
Abstract:
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135 appears to be a fairly common cause of infection associated with properdin deficiency or dysfunction, and anticapsular antibodies might be protective in these patients. For this reason, bactericidal and opsonophagocytic activities for serogroup W-135 were investigated before and four weeks after vaccination of two properdin-deficient adults with tetravalent meningococcal vaccine. In addition, the response of IgM, IgG and IgA class antibodies to the serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 was determined by ELISA. There was no evidence of poor antibody responses in the properdin-deficient persons. Vaccination promoted classical pathway-mediated killing in serum and opsonization of serogroup W-135 to the same extent as that seen in vaccinated controls. The increase of alternative pathway-mediated killing in the properdin-deficient sera was moderate, but vaccination clearly enhanced alternative pathway-mediated opsonophagocytosis in the sera. It was also shown that vaccination markedly reduced the requirement for properdin in alternative pathway-mediated killing of the meningococci.
Insights
Vaccination with meningococcal vaccine effectively boosts antibody responses and complement-mediated killing in individuals with properdin deficiency. This suggests vaccination is beneficial for properdin-deficient patients susceptible to meningococcal infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135 infections are common in patients with properdin deficiency or dysfunction.
- Anticapsular antibodies may offer protection against meningococcal disease in these individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bactericidal and opsonophagocytic activities against serogroup W-135 in properdin-deficient adults post-vaccination.
- To assess the antibody class responses (IgM, IgG, IgA) to meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 after vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Two properdin-deficient adults were vaccinated with a tetravalent meningococcal vaccine.
- Bactericidal and opsonophagocytic activities against serogroup W-135 were measured before and four weeks after vaccination.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine antibody class responses.
Main Results:
- Properdin-deficient individuals showed no evidence of poor antibody responses post-vaccination.
- Vaccination enhanced classical pathway-mediated killing and opsonization of serogroup W-135, comparable to controls.
- Vaccination moderately increased alternative pathway-mediated killing and significantly enhanced opsonophagocytosis in properdin-deficient sera, reducing the need for properdin.
Conclusions:
- Meningococcal vaccination is effective in enhancing both classical and alternative complement pathway functions in properdin-deficient individuals.
- Vaccination significantly improves the ability of properdin-deficient sera to kill and opsonize Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135.
- These findings support the use of meningococcal vaccines in patients with properdin deficiency.