Impact of Maternal Pertussis Antibodies on the Infants' Cellular Immune Responses. (24th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orije, Marjolein R P; García-Fogeda, Irene; Van Dyck, Wouter; Corbière, Véronique; Mascart, Françoise; Mahieu, Ludo; Hens, Niel; Van Damme, Pierre; Cools, Nathalie; Ogunjimi, Benson; Maertens, Kirsten; Leuridan, Elke
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 75:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 442
• Page End: 452
• Publication Date: 2021-11-24
• Subjects: cell-mediated immune response -- maternal antibodies -- maternal immunization -- preterm born infants -- Tdap; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab972
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Abstract : Acellular pertussis vaccination induces comparable cellular immune responses in term and preterm born infants. Establishment of Th1, Th17 cytokines, next to Th2 cytokines, suggest bacterial clearance functions are established. Maternal antibodies could modulate the infant's Th1/Th2 balance after booster vaccination.