Cellular immunity in measles vaccine failure: demonstration of measles antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses despite limited serum antibody production after revaccination

J Infect Dis. 1995 Dec;172(6):1591-5. doi: 10.1093/infdis/172.6.1591.

Abstract

Measles antigen-specific immune responses were evaluated 1 and 6 months after revaccination in 60 previously vaccinated subjects (9.4 +/- 3.4 years of age) who had either undetectable or low plaque reduction neutralization (PRN) titers (< 200). PRN titers were increased in all subjects at 1 month (590 +/- 61; range, 129-2513) but fell again in 66% of subjects by 6 months (214 +/- 29; range, 30-794). At 6 months, 23 (38%) had subprotective (< 120) or borderline (< 200) PRN titers. Lymphoproliferative responses to measles virus antigens were low overall before revaccination (mean stimulation index [SI], 2.6 +/- 0.4; range, 0.5-13.5) but were readily detectable at 1 (SI, 145.8 +/- 2.6; range, 1.4-80) and 6 months after revaccination (SI, 9.4 +/- 1.8; range, 1.1-87). Before revaccination, 10 of the subjects (50%) with low positive PRN titers had SIs > or = 3. At 6 months after revaccination, 18 subjects (78%) with PRN titers < or = 200 had SIs > or = 3. These data suggest that cellular responses to measles virus may be better sustained than antibody titers after vaccination and revaccination in some subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Infant
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Male
  • Measles Vaccine / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Measles Vaccine