title: Pediatric influenza vaccination: understanding the T-cell response.
abstract: Influenza A virus-specific T cells are highly cross-reactive and contribute to heterosubtypic immunity, which may afford protection against novel pandemic strains of influenza virus. However, the magnitude and nature of virus-specific T-cell responses induced by natural infections and/or vaccination in young children is poorly understood. Host factors, such as the development of the immune system during childhood and environmental factors such as exposure rates to influenza viruses and interference by vaccination contribute to shaping the magnitude and specificity of the T-cell response. Here, the authors review several of these factors, including the differences between T-cell responses of young children and adults, the age-dependent frequency of virus-specific T cells and the impact of annual childhood influenza vaccination. In addition, the authors summarize all currently available studies in which influenza vaccine-induced T-cell responses were evaluated. The authors discuss these findings in the light of developing vaccines and vaccination strategies aiming at the induction of protective immunity to seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses of antigenically distinct subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rogier
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bodewes
authors.forename: Pieter L A
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fraaij
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: Guus F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rimmelzwaan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines