Humoral, T-cell and B-cell immune responses to seasonal influenza vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients receiving anti-T cell therapies

Vaccine. 2016 Jun 30;34(31):3576-83. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.021. Epub 2016 May 21.

Abstract

Background: We analyzed the impact of the anti-T-cell agents basiliximab and antithymocyte globulins (ATG) on antibody and cell-mediated immune responses after influenza vaccination in solid-organ transplant recipients.

Methods: 71 kidney and heart transplant recipients (basiliximab [n=43] and ATG [n=28]) received the trivalent influenza vaccine. Antibody responses were measured at baseline and 6 weeks post-vaccination by hemagglutination inhibition assay; T-cell responses were measured by IFN-γ ELISpot assays and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS); and influenza-specific memory B-cell (MBC) responses were evaluated using ELISpot.

Results: Median time of vaccination from transplantation was 29 months (IQR 8-73). Post-vaccination seroconversion rates were 26.8% for H1N1, 34.1% for H3N2 and 4.9% for influenza B in the basiliximab group and 35.7% for H1N1, 42.9% for H3N2 and 14.3% for influenza B in the ATG group (p=0.44, p=0.61, and p=0.21, respectively). The number of influenza-specific IFN-γ-producing cells increased significantly after vaccination (from 35 to 67.5 SFC/10(6) PBMC, p=0.0007), but no differences between treatment groups were observed (p=0.88). Median number of IgG-MBC did not increase after vaccination (H1N1, p=0.94; H3N2 p=0.34; B, p=0.79), irrespective of the type of anti-T-cell therapy.

Conclusions: After influenza vaccination, a significant increase in antibody and T-cell immune responses but not in MBC responses was observed in transplant recipients. Immune responses were not significantly different between groups that received basiliximab or ATG.

Keywords: Biological agents; Immunogenicity; Induction; Prevention; Viral infection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Basiliximab
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Immunity, Humoral*
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype
  • Influenza Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Transplant Recipients*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Basiliximab