Cell-mediated immune responses to influenza vaccination in Wegener's granulomatosis.
BACKGROUND
Both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses are involved in the defence against influenza. In Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), antibody responses to influenza vaccination appear to be similar to those in healthy controls, but cell-mediated responses have not been studied.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cell-mediated responses to influenza vaccination in WG vary from those in controls.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with WG and healthy controls received subunit influenza vaccine. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained before and 1 month after vaccination. Cell-mediated responses to A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 were assessed using interferon gamma (IFN gamma) ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining for IFN gamma, tumour necrosis factor and interleukin 2.


RESULTS
Before vaccination, patients and controls showed similar recall responses to A/H1N1 and A/H3N2. After vaccination, patients and controls showed similar levels of increase in spot-forming cells against A/H1N1 and A/H3N2. By flow cytometry, upon vaccination, proportions of cytokine-producing CD4 T cells increased in patients and controls for A/H1N1 and A/H3N2.


CONCLUSIONS
Cell-mediated responses to influenza vaccination in patients with WG are comparable to those in healthy controls.
Holvast
Albert
A
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. bertholvast@hotmail.com
de Haan
Aalzen
A
van Assen
Sander
S
Stegeman
Coen A
CA
Huitema
Minke G
MG
Huckriede
Anke
A
Benne
Cornelis A
CA
Westra
Johanna
J
Palache
Abraham
A
Wilschut
Jan
J
Kallenberg
Cees G M
CG
Bijl
Marc
M
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination
D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines