Correlation between the antibody response to influenza vaccine and helper T cell subsets in healthy ageing

• Published in: Vaccine 1996-02, Vol.14 (2), p.127-130
• Main Authors: Remarque, E.J., Nijhuis, E.W.P., Hinloopen, B., Nagelkerken, L., van der Velde, E.A., Ligthart, G.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ageing; Aging - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Antibody Formation - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 + T cells; Human viral diseases; Humans; humoral immune response; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - blood; Infectious diseases; influenza; Influenza Vaccines - pharmacology; influenza virus; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/0264-410X(95)00155-T

To investigate the effects of the altered composition of the helper T cell compartment in ageing on the humoral response to influenza vaccine, we investigated correlations between helper T cell subsets and anti-influenza antibody responses in 23 JUNIEUR healthy young and 41 SENIEUR healthy elderly subjects. Naive helper T cell numbers (CD4 + CD45RA +) were negatively correlated with antibody production to two of the four strains investigated in JUNIEURS only. By contrast, memory helper T cell numbers (CD4 + CD45RO hi) were positively correlated with in vivo IgG antibody titres to three of the four vaccine strains. Age-related differences in the composition of the helper T cell compartment, however, did not explain the lower IgG antibody response that was observed to two of the four vaccine strains examined.