The effect of BCG on iron metabolism in the early neonatal period: A controlled trial in Gambian neonates

Abstract Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to protect neonates from non-tuberculous pathogens, but no biological mechanism to explain such effects is known. We hypothesised that BCG produces broad-spectrum anti-microbial protection via a hepcidin-mediated hypoferraemia, li...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vaccine 2015-06, Vol.33 (26), p.2963-2967
Main Authors: Prentice, Sarah, Jallow, Momodou W, Prentice, Andrew M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allergy and Immunology
Automation
Babies
BCG
BCG Vaccine - immunology
Blacks
Brief Report
Cytokines
Female
Gambia
Hepatitis B Vaccines - immunology
Hepatitis B virus
Hepcidin
Hepcidins - blood
Heterologous effects
Humans
Immunity, Heterologous
Infant Health
Infant, Newborn
Iron
Iron - metabolism
ISRCTN93854442
Male
Metabolism
Mothers
Neonate
Neonates
Pathogens
Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral - immunology
Public health
Vaccination
Vaccines
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Summary:Abstract Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to protect neonates from non-tuberculous pathogens, but no biological mechanism to explain such effects is known. We hypothesised that BCG produces broad-spectrum anti-microbial protection via a hepcidin-mediated hypoferraemia, limiting iron availability for pathogens. To test this we conducted a trial in 120 Gambian neonates comparing iron status in the first 5-days of life after allocation to: (1) All routine vaccinations at birth (BCG/Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)/Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV)); (2) BCG delayed until after the study period (at day 5); and (3) All routine vaccinations delayed until after the study period. Vaccine regime at birth did not significantly impact on any measured parameter of iron metabolism. However, the ability to detect an effect of BCG on iron metabolism may have been limited by short follow-up time and high activation of the inflammatory-iron axis in the study population.
ISSN:0264-410X
1873-2518
DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.087