title: Aggregate content influences the Th1/Th2 immune response to influenza vaccine: evidence from a mouse model.
abstract: During the 2000-2001 season, a newly identified oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS) was detected across Canada as an adverse effect to one influenza vaccine. The implicated vaccine contained a higher than expected proportion of unsplit and aggregated influenza virions. Clinical and epidemiologic features of ORS were suggestive of type 2-like influences on the immune response. We hypothesized that the implicated vaccine from the 2000-2001 season would induce greater Th2-like polarization relative to the non-implicated vaccine from the same season. Three groups consisting of eight mice each were either immunized with implicated vaccine, immunized with non-implicated vaccine or not immunized. Antigen-specific cellular responses were characterized based on the balance of Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) and Th1 (IFN-gamma) cytokines in vitro. We confirm that vaccine aggregates deviate the immune response to a greater Th2 cytokine pattern with potential implications for vaccine screening, safety, and efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babiuk
authors.forename: Danuta M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Skowronski
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Serres
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: HayGlass
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brunham
authors.forename: Lorne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babiuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines