Parenteral Vaccination against Influenza Does Not Induce a Local Antigen-Specific Immune Response in the Nasal Mucosa

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2002-04, Vol.185 (7), p.878-884
• Main Authors: Brokstad, Karl Albert, Eriksson, Jens-Christian, Cox, Rebecca Jane, Tynning, Turid, Olofsson, Jan, Jonsson, Roland, Davidsson, Åke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antibody Specificity; Antibody-Producing Cells - immunology; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; H1N1 subtype influenza A virus; H3N2 subtype influenza A virus; Humans; Influenza A virus - immunology; Influenza B virus - immunology; Influenza vaccines; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza, Human - immunology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Influenza, Human - virology; Major Articles; Male; Microbiology; Nasal mucosa; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; Orthomyxoviridae; Palatine Tonsil - immunology; Palatine tonsils; Vaccination; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Virology; Viruses
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1573-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/339710

The immune response in the nasal mucosa to influenza vaccination in 23 patients scheduled for tonsillectomy was studied. A statistically significant increase in influenza virus-specific serum and oral fluid antibodies was observed 7 days after vaccination. The numbers of influenza virus- specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in peripheral blood also increased significantly 1 week after vaccination. The numbers of ASCs in tonsils and nasal mucosa were compared with data from a recent study of nonvaccinated volunteers. The numbers of influenza virus-specific ASCs in tonsils were significantly higher in the vaccinated group, but, surprisingly, there was no significant difference between the groups in the numbers of ASCs in nasal mucosa. This suggests that the influenza virus-specific antibodies detected in oral fluid are not produced locally in the nasal mucosa and may originate from a systemic source, indicating that the vaccination may favor a systemic immune response.