Influenza vaccination in MS: absence of T-cell response against white matter proteins.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Natural infections bear the risk of triggering MS bouts, whereas epidemiologic studies have not delineated an increased risk for disease activity after influenza virus vaccination.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine influenza A virus-specific and myelin protein-reactive T-cell frequencies by interferon gamma (IFNgamma)-enzyme-linked immunospot and the response of these cells by IFNgamma-reverse transcription (RT) PCR after immunization and any incidental upper respiratory tract infection (URI) in 12 patients with MS (seven with a relapsing-remitting course; five with a secondary progressive course; Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score from 1.0 to 6.5, without immunosuppressive treatment) and 28 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS:

A cellular immune response against influenza A virus was mounted in both populations at 2 weeks after vaccination. Patients with MS showed a higher relative increase (p = 0.008) than controls with respect to the number of influenza-specific T cells. Mean antibody responses against influenza A virus were increased in both populations after 2 weeks (p < 0.01). Despite these virus-specific reactions, no increase in T-cell frequencies responsive to human myelin basic protein (MBP) or recombinant human myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG) was observed after immunization, arguing against a general immune stimulation by influenza vaccination. In contrast, MBP-specific T-cell responses became detectable in several individuals after febrile infection.

CONCLUSION:

These data support the clinical observations that influenza vaccination is effective and safe in patients with MS with respect to cellular immunoreactivity against two main CNS myelin proteins.

• Authors: N F Moriabadi, S Niewiesk, N Kruse, S Jung, B Weissbrich, V ter Meulen, K V Toyka, P Rieckmann
• Journal: Neurology (Neurology) Vol. 56 Issue 7 Pg. 938-43 (Apr 10 2001) ISSN: 0028-3878 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11294933 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Influenza Vaccines

Topics

• Adult
• Brain (immunology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Influenza Vaccines (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Sclerosis (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Vaccination