TY - JOUR
T1 - Ageing of Immune System and Response to a Live-Attenuated Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Lung Transplant Candidates
AU - Wang, Lei
AU - Verschuuren, Erik A. M.
AU - Paap, Davy
AU - Rondaan, Christien
AU - Raveling-Eelsing, Elisabeth
AU - Liu, Siqi
AU - Westra, Johanna
AU - Bos, Nicolaas A.
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - The mean age of lung transplant recipients has significantly increased in recent decades. Elderly recipients have a higher risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ), and they have in general a worse response to vaccination than younger persons do. We investigated the relationship between the humoral and cellular immune response to a live-attenuated HZ vaccine (Zostavax(R), Merck Sharp and Dohme) and the frequencies of T and B cell subsets, especially aged cell subsets (CD28-T cells and age associated B cells, ABCs). In total, 37 patients awaiting lung transplantation received one dose of Zostavax(R), and peripheral blood was collected before and within 6 months after vaccination. We observed a robust immune response after vaccination. The frequencies of CD28-T cells before vaccination had no impact on the subsequent immune response to HZ vaccination. However, a higher frequency of ABCs before vaccination correlated with a lower immune response especially regarding the cellular immune response. Cytomegalovirus seropositivity was associated with increased frequencies of CD28-T cells but not with frequencies of ABCs in the patients. In conclusion, increased levels of ABCs might disturb the cellular immune response to HZ vaccination, which could lower the efficacy of such vaccination in elderly transplant recipients.
AB - The mean age of lung transplant recipients has significantly increased in recent decades. Elderly recipients have a higher risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ), and they have in general a worse response to vaccination than younger persons do. We investigated the relationship between the humoral and cellular immune response to a live-attenuated HZ vaccine (Zostavax(R), Merck Sharp and Dohme) and the frequencies of T and B cell subsets, especially aged cell subsets (CD28-T cells and age associated B cells, ABCs). In total, 37 patients awaiting lung transplantation received one dose of Zostavax(R), and peripheral blood was collected before and within 6 months after vaccination. We observed a robust immune response after vaccination. The frequencies of CD28-T cells before vaccination had no impact on the subsequent immune response to HZ vaccination. However, a higher frequency of ABCs before vaccination correlated with a lower immune response especially regarding the cellular immune response. Cytomegalovirus seropositivity was associated with increased frequencies of CD28-T cells but not with frequencies of ABCs in the patients. In conclusion, increased levels of ABCs might disturb the cellular immune response to HZ vaccination, which could lower the efficacy of such vaccination in elderly transplant recipients.
KW - lung transplantation
KW - ageing
KW - herpes zoster vaccine
KW - age associated B cells
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines9030202
DO - 10.3390/vaccines9030202
M3 - Article
C2 - 33671003
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 9
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 3
M1 - 202
ER -