Intrinsic defects in B cell response to seasonal influenza vaccination in elderly humans

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 28; no. 51; pp. 8077 - 8084
• Main Authors: Frasca, Daniela, Diaz, Alain, Romero, Maria, Landin, Ana Marie, Phillips, Mitch, Lechner, Suzanne C., Ryan, John G., Blomberg, Bonnie B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 29.11.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; AICDA (Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase); Allergy and Immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Applied microbiology; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytidine Deaminase - metabolism; Defects; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health care; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Humans; Immune system; Immunoglobulin class switch recombination; Immunologic Memory; Influenza; Influenza vaccination; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Lymphocytes; Male; Memory; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Mortality; Seasons; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Aging; Immunoglobulin class switch recombination; Influenza vaccination; B lymphocytes; Human; Immunoglobulins; Recombination; Vaccination; B-Lymphocyte; Infection; Viral disease; Influenza; Elderly; Immunoglobulin class switch
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.10.023

We have evaluated the serum response to seasonal influenza vaccination in subjects of different ages and associated this with the specific B cell response to the vaccine in vitro. Although the serum response has previously been shown to decrease with age, this has largely been associated to decreased T cell functions. Our results show that in response to the vaccine, the specific response of B cells in vitro, as measured by AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), the in vivo serum HI (hemagglutination inhibition) response, and the in vivo generation of switch memory B cells are decreased with age, as evaluated in the same subjects. This is the first report to demonstrate that intrinsic B cell defects with age contribute to reduced antibody responses to the influenza vaccine. The level of AID in response to CpG before vaccination can also predict the robustness of the vaccine response. These results could contribute to developing more effective vaccines to protect the elderly as well as identifying those most at risk.