title: Waning of vaccine-induced immunity to measles in kidney transplanted children.
abstract: Vaccine-preventable diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients who undergo immunosuppression after transplantation. Data on immune responses and long-term maintenance after vaccinations in such population are still limited.We cross-sectionally evaluated the maintenance of immune response to measles vaccine in kidney transplanted children on immunosuppressive therapy. Measles-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and B-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot were performed in 74 kidney transplant patients (Tps) and in 23 healthy controls (HCs) previously vaccinated and tested for humoral protection against measles. The quality of measles antibody response was measured by avidity test. B-cell phenotype, investigated via flow cytometry, was further correlated to the ability of Tps to maintain protective humoral responses to measles over time.We observed the loss of vaccine-induced immunity against measles in 19% of Tps. Nonseroprotected children showed signs of impaired B-cell distribution as well as immune senescence and lower antibody avidity. We further reported as time elapsed between vaccination and transplantation, as well as the vaccine administration during dialysis are clinical factors affecting the maintenance of the immune memory response against measles.Tps present both quantitative and qualitative alterations in the maintenance of protective immunity to measles vaccine. Prospective studies are needed to optimize the vaccination schedules in kidney transplant recipients in order to increase the immunization coverage over time in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Rome Tor Vergata Academic Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-Research Institute (IRCCS) Virology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-Research Institute (IRCCS) Nephrology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-Research Institute (IRCCS) Research Unit in Congenital and Perinatal Infections, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-Research Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cotugno
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Concato
authors.forename: Emma Concetta
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nocentini
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macchiarulo
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cancrini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finocchi
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dello Strologo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine