Variability of Vaccine Responsiveness in Young Children

Authors

Michael Pichichero, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Lei Xu, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Eduardo Gonzalez, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Minh Pham
Ravinder Kaur, Rochester Regional HealthFollow

Department

Research

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Variability in vaccine responsiveness among young children is poorly understood.

METHODS: Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected in the first weeks of life for measurement of cytokines/chemokines seeking a biomarker, and blood samples were collected at age 1 year to identify vaccine responsiveness status, defined as low vaccine responder (LVR), normal vaccine responder (NVR), and high vaccine responder (HVR), to test for vaccine antigen-induced immune memory and for antigen-presenting cell (APC) function.

RESULTS: Significantly lower specific cytokine/chemokine levels as biosignatures, measurable in nasopharyngeal secretions at infant age 1-3 weeks, predicted LVR status compared to NVR and HVR children. Antibiotic exposures were correlated with increased occurrence of LVR. At age 1 year, LVRs had fewer CD4+ T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 memory cells responsive to specific vaccine antigens. APC responses observed among LVRs, both at rest and in response to Toll-like receptor 7/8 stimulation by R848, were suboptimal, suggesting that altered innate immunity may contribute to immune deficiency in LVRs.

CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine biosignatures in the first weeks of life may predict vaccine responsiveness in children during the first year of life. Antibiotic exposure is associated with LVR in children. CD4+ T-cell memory induction and APC deficiencies occur in LVR children.

First Page

1856

Last Page

1865

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jiad524

Volume

229

Issue

6

Publication Date

6-14-2024

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Infant; Female; Male; Cytokines; Infant, Newborn; Nasopharynx; Immunologic Memory; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Vaccination; Biomarkers

PubMed ID

37992188

Recommended Citation

Pichichero, M., Xu, L., Gonzalez, E., Pham, M., & Kaur, R. (2024). Variability of Vaccine Responsiveness in Young Children. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 229 (6), 1856-1865. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad524