Intranasal delivery of whole influenza vaccine prevents subsequent allergen-induced sensitization and airway hyper-reactivity in mice

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2007-08, Vol.37 (8), p.1250-1258
• Main Authors: Minne, A., Jaworska, J., Gerhold, K., Ahrens, B., Avagyan, A., Vanbever, R., Matricardi, P. M., Schmidt, A. C., Hamelmann, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Allergens - immunology; Allergens - toxicity; Animals; asthma; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - chemically induced; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - prevention & control; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; cytokines; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Influenza A virus - immunology; influenza vaccine; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza virus; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; ovalbumin; Ovalbumin - immunology; Ovalbumin - toxicity; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Vaccines, Inactivated - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Inactivated - immunology
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02767.x

Summary Background Infection with influenza virus has been associated with seemingly opposing effects on the development of asthma. However, there are no data about the effects of mucosal vaccination with inactivated influenza on the inception of allergic asthma. Objective To assess the immunological effects of inhaled inactivated influenza vaccine, using two different types of flu vaccines, on the inception of allergic sensitization and allergen‐mediated airway disease in a mouse model. Methods BALB/c mice were intranasally or intratracheally vaccinated with whole or split influenza virus vaccine (days −1 or −1, 27) before systemic sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) (days 1, 14) and repeated airway allergen challenges (days 28–30). Allergen sensitization (IgE serum levels), airway inflammation (differential cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) and airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR) (in vivo lung function) were analysed. Results The intranasal instillation of whole influenza vaccine before allergen sensitization significantly reduced the serum levels of total and OVA‐specific IgE as well as allergen‐induced AHR. Prevention was due to an allergen‐specific shift from a predominant T helper (Th)2‐ towards a Th1‐immune response. Application of split influenza vaccine did not show the same preventive effect. Conclusion Intranasal administration of inactivated whole influenza vaccine reduced subsequent allergen sensitization and prevented allergen‐induced AHR. Our results show that the composition of the influenza vaccine has a major influence on subsequent development of allergen‐induced sensitization and AHR, and suggest that mucosal inactivated whole influenza vaccination may represent a step towards the development of a preventive strategy for atopic asthma.