title: Cellular immune responses to four doses of percutaneous bacille Calmette-Guérin in healthy adults.
abstract: To explore the hypothesis that low-dose immunization might induce preferential Th1 cell immunity, 76 adults were vaccinated with one of four doses of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG): The doses contained very low (1.6 x 10(5) cfu), low (3.2 x 10(6) cfu), standard (1.6 x 10(8) cfu), or high (3.2 x 10(8) cfu) levels of BCG. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses occurred 8 weeks after vaccination in 10% of persons given very low or low doses of BCG, compared with 95% and 100% of persons given standard or high doses, respectively. Lymphoproliferative responses, which were increased only for high-dose vaccinees, peaked 2 weeks after vaccination and were directed chiefly against Mycobacterium tuberculosis-secreted proteins, particularly the antigen 85 complex. Significant increases in mycobacteria-specific interferon-gamma expression were present 16 weeks after vaccination only for persons given standard or high doses of BCG. Percutaneous BCG appears capable of inducing a temporary Th1-like immune response, but standard or higher dosages are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Medical School, Minneapolis, USA. lowry.philip@mayo.edu
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Andrle
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Offerdahl
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma