title: UV-induced immunosuppression and the efficacy of vaccination.
abstract: Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) suppresses immunity by complex pathways, initiated by chromophores located in the skin and ending with the generation of specific subsets of T and B regulatory cells. The primary and memory (recall) immune response to a wide variety of antigens, including microorganisms, can be reduced by UVR, leading to the possibility that the efficacy of vaccination could be similarly reduced. A limited number of animal models of vaccination demonstrate that this may indeed be the case. The situation in human subjects has not been rigorously assessed but there are indications from a variety of sources that UVR adversely affects the immune responses to several vaccines. These studies are reviewed and the implications for vaccine administration discussed. As vaccination represents a major public health measure world-wide for the control of an increasing number of common infections, it is important to maximise its efficacy; therefore further evaluation of UVR in the context of vaccination is required and warranted.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK. M.Norval@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norval
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines