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Impact of Maternal Pertussis Antibodies on the Infants' Cellular Immune Responses
Marjolein R P Orije1, Irene García-Fogeda2, Wouter Van Dyck1
1Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV), Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Insights
Maternal tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) antibodies may influence infant immune responses to pertussis vaccines. This study found infant Tdap vaccination elicits T helper cell responses, but maternal antibodies can modulate these effects, particularly IL-13 production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Maternal antibody interference with infant immune responses to vaccines is a concern.
- The impact of maternal tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) antibodies on infant T-cell responses to acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of maternal Tdap antibodies on infant pertussis-specific T lymphocyte responses.
- To compare these responses in term and preterm infants following infant vaccination with an aP-containing vaccine.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study of 79 infants (term and preterm) whose mothers received Tdap vaccination or not.
- Infant blood samples were collected before and after primary and booster vaccinations with a DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T vaccine.
- Pertussis toxin (PT)-specific T lymphocyte responses (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+) and cytokine secretions (IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-5) were measured.
Main Results:
- 57% of infants showed CD3+CD4+ lymphoblast responses and 17% showed CD3+CD8+ lymphoblast responses after vaccination.
- Cytokine profiles indicated mixed T helper (Th) 1/Th2/Th17 cell responses.
- Infants with higher maternal PT IgG levels at birth were less likely to be IL-13 responders after booster vaccination.
Conclusions:
- Term and preterm infants can mount Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses to aP vaccination.
- Maternal Tdap vaccination can modulate these infant immune responses.
- Further evaluation in larger trials is warranted to fully understand these modulatory effects.
Introduction:
Maternal antibody interference of the infant's humoral immune responses raises some concern to the strategy of maternal Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis [aP]) vaccination. This study assessed the impact of maternal Tdap antibodies on the infant's pertussis-specific T lymphocyte responses following infant vaccination with an aP containing vaccine, in a term and preterm born cohort.
Methods:
Heparin samples (±0.5 mL) were conveniently drawn from infants of a Belgian prospective cohort study (N = 79, NCT02511327), including Tdap vaccinated (Boostrix®) and nonvaccinated women (no Tdap vaccine in the last 5 years) that delivered at term or prematurely. Sampling was performed before and 1 month after primary (8-12-16 weeks) and booster vaccination (13 or 15 months) with DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T vaccine (Hexyon®). Pertussis toxin (PT)-specific CD3+, CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ lymphoblasts and their cytokine secretions were measured using a flow cytometric assay on whole blood (FASCIA) and multiplex technology (Meso Scale Discovery), respectively.
Results:
In total, 57% of all infants were considered PT-specific CD3+ CD4+ lymphoblasts responders after primary and booster vaccination, whereas 17% were CD3+ CD8+ lymphoblast responders. Interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-13, IL-17A, and IL-5 cytokine secretions after primary and booster vaccination were indicative of a mixed T helper (Th) 1/Th2/Th17 cell profile. Lymphoblast and cytokine levels were comparable between term and preterm infants. Nonresponders for IL-13 after booster vaccination had higher maternal PT immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels at birth when compared to responders.
Conclusions:
Term and preterm born infants are capable of inducing Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses after aP vaccination, yet maternal vaccination modulate these responses. Evaluation of this effect in larger trials is needed.
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