title: A comparative analysis of polyfunctional T cells and secreted cytokines induced by Bacille Calmette-Guérin immunisation in children and adults.
abstract: BCG vaccine is one of the most commonly-administered vaccines worldwide. Studies suggest the protective efficacy of BCG against TB is better for children than for adults. One potential explanation is that BCG induces a better protective immune response in children. Twenty six children and adults were immunised with BCG. The proportion of Th1-cytokine-producing mycobacterial-specific T cells, and the concentrations of secreted cytokines, were measured before and 10 weeks after BCG immunisation. A significant increase in the proportion of mycobacterial-specific cytokine-producing T cells was observed in both age groups. After BCG immunisation, children and adults had comparable proportions of mycobacterial-specific polyfunctional CD4 T cells when measured relative to the total number of CD4 T cells. However, relative to the subset of Th-1-cytokine-producing CD4 T cells, the proportion of polyfunctional cells was greater in children. Concentrations of secreted cytokines were comparable in children and adults. These findings suggest that the mycobacterial-specific cell-mediated immune response induced by BCG immunisation in children and adults is similar. The implication of a shift to a more polyfunctional immune response within the Th1-cytokine-producing CD4 T cells in children is uncertain as this aspect of the immune response has not been assessed as a potential correlate of protection against TB.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. nicole.ritz@rch.org.au
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Ritz
authors: Madeleine
authors: M
authors: Strach
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Yau
authors: Binita
authors: B
authors: Dutta
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Tebruegge
authors: Tom G
authors: TG
authors: Connell
authors: Willem A
authors: WA
authors: Hanekom
authors: Warwick J
authors: WJ
authors: Britton
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Robins-Browne
authors: Nigel
authors: N
authors: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015850:Interleukin-6; C487774:metaphase chromosome protein 1, human; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma