title: Immunoglobulin G subclass response to a meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine.
abstract: Changes in the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1)/IgG2 ratio following vaccination can indicate the activation of cellular control mechanisms typical of a T-cell-dependent response. We examined IgG subclass ratios in 17 healthy adults (26 to 55 years of age) before and 4 to 6 weeks following immunization with a quadrivalent meningococcal-polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine against serogroups A, C, Y, and W135. Serologic responses were determined by serum bactericidal antibody assay and serogroup-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prevaccination serogroup A-specific IgG1/IgG2 ratios were <1 for all subjects and differed by subject for C, Y, and W-135. Postvaccination, significant increases in IgG, IgG1, and IgG2, were observed for all serogroups. Serogroup-specific IgG1/IgG2 ratios increased for group A (14/17 subjects, 88%), decreased in more than half of subjects for groups C (9/17, 53%) and W135 (12/17, 71%) and decreased for serogroup Y (16/17, 94%). IgG1/IgG2 ratios differed between individual vaccinees and were similar to the responses of adults who received pneumococcal conjugate vaccines or a monovalent C conjugate vaccine. Further studies on IgG subclasses following meningococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccination are needed.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Health Protection Agency North West, P.O. Box 209, Clinical Sciences Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WZ, United Kingdom. helen.findlow@hpa.org.uk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Findlow
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Southern
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mabey
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balmer
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Heyderman
authors.forename: Cressida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auckland
authors.forename: Rhonwen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000276:immunology; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate