Live attenuated influenza vaccine in children induces b-cell responses in tonsils

Background. Tonsils play a key role in eliciting immune responses against respiratory pathogens. Little is known about how tonsils contribute to the local immune response after intranasal vaccination. Here, we uniquely report the mucosal humoral responses in tonsils and saliva after intranasal live...

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Main Authors: Mohn, Kristin Greve-Isdahl, Brokstad, Karl Albert, Pathirana, Rishi, Bredholt, Geir, Jul-Larsen, Åsne, Trieu, Mai Chi, Jalloh, Sarah Larteley Lartey, Montemoli, Emanuele, Tøndel, Camilla, Aarstad, Hans Jørgen, Cox, Rebecca Jane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antibody-secreting cell
humoral
influenza
LAIV
longevity
lymphoid tissue
memory B cell
mucosa
pediatric
saliva immune response
tonsils
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Summary:Background. Tonsils play a key role in eliciting immune responses against respiratory pathogens. Little is known about how tonsils contribute to the local immune response after intranasal vaccination. Here, we uniquely report the mucosal humoral responses in tonsils and saliva after intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) vaccination in children. Methods. Blood, saliva, and tonsils samples were collected from 39 children before and after LAIV vaccination and from 16 age-matched, nonvaccinated controls. Serum antibody responses were determined by a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody-secreting cell (ASC) and memory B-cell (MBC) responses were enumerated in tonsils and blood. Results. Significant increases were observed in levels of serum antibodies and salivary IgA to influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B virus strains as early as 14 days after vaccination but not to influenza A(H1N1). Influenza virus–specific salivary IgA levels correlated with serum HI responses, making this a new possible indicator of vaccine immunogenicity in children. LAIV augmented influenza virus–specific B-cell responses in tonsils and blood. Tonsillar MBC responses correlated with systemic MBC and serological responses. Naive children showed significant increases in MBC counts after LAIV vaccination. Conclusions. This is the first study to demonstrate that LAIV elicits humoral B-cell responses in tonsils of young children. Furthermore, salivary IgA analysis represents an easy method for measuring immunogenicity after vaccination.