title: Influence of the specific T cell response on seroconversion after measles vaccination in autologous bone marrow transplant patients.
abstract: Six patients who were seronegative to measles after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) were vaccinated with a live attenuated measles vaccine. The specific T helper cell response was studied by measuring lymphocyte proliferation induced by measles antigen and B cell response by measles specific IgG by ELISA. Blood samples were drawn before, at 1-3 months, and at 1 year after vaccination. It was found that a pre-existing T cell response correlated with an impaired B cell response 1 year after vaccination (r = 0.83, P = 0.04), whereas no correlation was found between IgG titers before vaccination and IgG titer increase, or T cell response after vaccination. Furthermore, there was a transient negative correlation between the T cell response at 1-3 months after vaccination and the T cell response before vaccination (r = -0.90, P = 0.04) that became positive at 1 year after vaccination (r = 0.90, P = 0.02). In conclusion, in patients seronegative to measles who were revaccinated with measles vaccine after ABMT, a pre-existing T cell response correlated with an impaired B cell response, while pre-existing low-level IgG antibodies had no significant influence on the IgG titer rise. A sustained T cell response to measles antigen before vaccination may thus be one possible explanation for measles vaccine failure in ABMT patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pauksen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lönnerholm
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ljungman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sjölin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D008459:Measles virus; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine