title: Loss of multi-epitope specificity in memory CD4(+) T cell responses to B. pertussis with age.
abstract: Pertussis is still occurring in highly vaccinated populations, affecting individuals of all ages. Long-lived Th1 CD4(+) T cells are essential for protective immunity against pertussis. For better understanding of the limited immunological memory to Bordetella pertussis, we used a panel of Pertactin and Pertussis toxin specific peptides to interrogate CD4(+) T cell responses at the epitope level in a unique cohort of symptomatic pertussis patients of different ages, at various time intervals after infection. Our study showed that pertussis epitope-specific T cell responses contained Th1 and Th2 components irrespective of the epitope studied, time after infection, or age. In contrast, the breadth of the pertussis-directed CD4(+) T cell response seemed dependent on age and closeness to infection. Multi-epitope specificity long-term after infection was lost in older age groups. Detailed knowledge on pertussis specific immune mechanisms and their insufficiencies is important for understanding resurgence of pertussis in highly vaccinated populations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wanda G H
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Inonge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Twillert
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martien C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Poelen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Mathematical Modelling and Data Logistics, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van de Kassteele
authors.affiliation: Julius Center Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Verheij
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Florens G A
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Versteegh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Translational Vaccinology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Claire J P
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Boog
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cécile A C M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Els
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C068929:pertactin; D037342:Pertussis Toxin