Cellular immune responses to four doses of percutaneous bacille Calmette-Guérin in healthy adults.
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.
Lowry
P W
PW
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Medical School, Minneapolis, USA. lowry.philip@mayo.edu
Ludwig
T S
TS
Adams
J A
JA
Fitzpatrick
M L
ML
Grant
S M
SM
Andrle
G A
GA
Offerdahl
M R
MR
Cho
S N
SN
Jacobs
D R
DR
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
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma