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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Influenza Vaccines in Chimeric Mouse Models to Study Mucosal Immunity
Published on: June 25, 2015
Vaccination mitigates influenza-induced muscular declines in aged mice
Spencer R Keilich1,2, Erica C Lorenzo1,2, Blake L Torrance1,2
1UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
Abstract:
Influenza (flu) infection increases the risk for disability, falls, and broken bones in older adults. We have employed a preclinical model to examine the impact of flu on muscle function, which has a direct impact on fall risk. In mice, flu causes mobility and strength impairments with induction of inflammatory and muscle degradation genes that are increased and prolonged with aging. To determine if vaccination could reduce flu-induced muscle decrements, mice were vaccinated with flu nucleoprotein, infected, and muscle parameters were measured. Vaccination of aged mice resulted in significant protection from functional decrements, muscle gene expressions alterations, and morphological damage. Vaccination also improved protection from lung localized and systemic inflammation in aged mice. Despite documented decreased vaccine efficacy with aging, vaccination still provided partial protection to aged mice and represents a potential strategy to prevent flu-induced disability. These findings provide translational insight on ways to reduce flu-induced disability with aging. Graphical abstract .
Insights
Influenza (flu) infection impairs muscle function and increases fall risk in older adults. Vaccination offers partial protection against these flu-induced muscle deficits and inflammation in aged mice.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Immunology
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Influenza infection poses significant risks for older adults, including disability, falls, and fractures.
- Muscle function decline is a key factor contributing to increased fall risk in the elderly population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of influenza on muscle function in a preclinical model.
- To evaluate the efficacy of influenza vaccination in mitigating flu-induced muscle impairments in aged individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model to study influenza-induced changes in muscle function, strength, and inflammatory gene expression.
- Assessed the protective effects of nucleoprotein-based influenza vaccination in aged mice post-infection.
- Measured functional decrements, gene expression alterations, and morphological damage in muscle tissues.
Main Results:
- Influenza infection led to mobility and strength impairments, with exacerbated inflammatory and muscle degradation gene expression in aged mice.
- Vaccination of aged mice significantly protected against functional deficits, altered gene expression, and muscle damage.
- Vaccination also reduced lung-localized and systemic inflammation in aged, infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Influenza vaccination provides partial protection against muscle decrements and inflammation in aged mice, despite known age-related decreases in vaccine efficacy.
- These findings highlight vaccination as a potential strategy to prevent influenza-induced disability and muscle dysfunction in older adults.
- The study offers translational insights into mitigating age-related risks associated with influenza infection.
