Assessment of humoral immunity and nutritionally essential trace elements in steady-state sickle cell disease Nigerian children before and after Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccination

• Published in: Blood science 2022-07, Vol.4 (3), p.170-173
• Main Authors: Arinola, Ganiyu Olatunbosun, Disu, Elizabeth, Babatunde, Adedokun, Olopade, Christopher, Olopade, Olufunmilayo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2543-6368; 2543-6368
• DOI: 10.1097/BS9.0000000000000115

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are particularly prone to pneumococcal infection and administration of 13 pneumococcal vaccine in Nigerian children with SCD is yet to be wide spread. This call for the need to study humoral immune responses stimulated by pneumococcal vaccine in SCD children to confirm the benefit or otherwise for the use of pneumococcal vaccine. The levels of humoral (innate and adaptive) immune factors and associated nutritionally essential trace elements were determined following pneumococcal vaccination of 23 Nigerian children with SCD. Serum innate humoral immune factors [Complement factors (C1q and C4), transferrin, ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and adaptive humoral immune factors [IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE] were determined using ELISA. Nutritionally essential trace elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were measured also using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The serum levels of certain innate humoral immune factors (ferritin, CRP, and C4), only one adaptive humoral immune factors (IgE), and essential trace elements (Fe, Zn, and Cu) were significantly elevated in children with SCD post pneumococcal vaccination when compared to prevaccination levels. Vaccination of children with SCD with pneumococcal vaccine was associated with increased levels of more innate humoral immune factors than adaptive factors. This study thus supports the administration of pneumococcal vaccination to children with SCD.