Enhanced immune responses by skin vaccination with influenza subunit vaccine in young hosts.
Skin has gained substantial attention as a vaccine target organ due to its immunological properties, which include a high density of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this vaccination route not only in animal models but also in adults. Young children represent a population group that is at high risk from influenza infection. As a result, this group could benefit significantly from influenza vaccine delivery approaches through the skin and the improved immune response it can induce. In this study, we compared the immune responses in young BALB/c mice upon skin delivery of influenza vaccine with vaccination by the conventional intramuscular route. Young mice that received 5 μg of H1N1 A/Ca/07/09 influenza subunit vaccine using MN demonstrated an improved serum antibody response (IgG1 and IgG2a) when compared to the young IM group, accompanied by higher numbers of influenza-specific antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in the bone marrow. In addition, we observed increased activation of follicular helper T cells and formation of germinal centers in the regional lymph nodes in the MN immunized group, rapid clearance of the virus from their lungs as well as complete survival, compared with partial protection observed in the IM-vaccinated group. Our results support the hypothesis that influenza vaccine delivery through the skin would be beneficial for protecting the high-risk young population from influenza infection.
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Influenza Pathogenesis and Immunology Research Center (IPIRC), Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Dimitrios G
DG
Koutsonanos
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
E Stein
ES
Esser
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Influenza Pathogenesis and Immunology Research Center (IPIRC), Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Sean R
SR
McMaster
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Fest Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, United States.
Priya
P
Kalluri
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Fest Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, United States.
Jeong-Woo
JW
Lee
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Fest Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, United States.
Mark R
MR
Prausnitz
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Influenza Pathogenesis and Immunology Research Center (IPIRC), Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Ioanna
I
Skountzou
Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
Timothy L
TL
Denning
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Influenza Pathogenesis and Immunology Research Center (IPIRC), Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Jacob E
JE
Kohlmeier
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Influenza Pathogenesis and Immunology Research Center (IPIRC), Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States. Electronic address: rcompan@emory.edu.
Richard W
RW
Compans
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007271:Injections, Intradermal / Q000379:methods; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit
Influenza; Skin immunization; Vaccine