Differences in Influenza-Specific CD4 T-Cell Mediated Immunity Following Acute Infection Versus Inactivated Vaccination in Children. (19th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shannon, Ian; White, Chantelle L; Yang, Hongmei; Nayak, Jennifer L
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 223:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2164
• Page End: 2173
• Publication Date: 2020-10-19
• Subjects: influenza immunity -- pediatrics -- CD4 T cells -- cellular immune response; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa664
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Early childhood influenza infections imprint influenza-specific immune memory, with most studies evaluating antibody specificity. In this study, we examined how infection versus inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV) establish pediatric CD4 T-cell mediated immunity to influenza and whether this poises the immune system to respond differently to IIV the following year. Methods: We tracked influenza-specific CD4 T-cell responses in 16 H3N2 infected and 28 IIV immunized children following both initial exposure and after cohorts were revaccinated with IIV the following fall. PBMCs were stimulated with peptide pools encompassing the translated regions of the H3 HA and NP proteins and were then stained to assess CD4 T-cell specificity and function. Results: Compared to IIV, infection primed a greater magnitude CD4 T-cell response specific for the infecting HA and NP proteins, with more robust NP-specific immunity persisting through year 2. Post infection, CD4 T cells preferentially produced combinations of cytokines that included interferon-γ. Interestingly, age-specific patterns in CD4 T-cell reactivity demonstrated the impact of multiple influenza exposures over time. Conclusions: These data indicate that infection and vaccination differentially prime influenza-specific CD4 T-cell responses in early childhood, with these differences contributing to the lasting immunologic imprinting established following early influenza infection. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02559505. Abstract : In this study, influenza-specific CD4 T-cell responses were compared in children either acutely infected with influenza or vaccinated with IIV. H3- and NP-specific CD4 T-cell reactivity was found to vary depending on both subject exposure history and age.