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Kempis-Calanis LA, Rodríguez-Jorge O, Gutiérrez-Reyna DY, Ventura-Martínez CJ, Spicuglia S, Medina-Rivera A, Thieffry D, González A, Santana MA. Neonatal CD4+ T cells have a characteristic transcriptome and epigenome and respond to TCR stimulation with proliferation and yet a limited immune response. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 116:64-76. [PMID: 38146769 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune response is coordinated by CD4+ T cells, which determine the type and strength of the immune response and the effector cells involved. It has been reported that CD4+ T cells are less responsive in neonates, leading to low activation of the cellular response and poor antibody production by B cells. This low response is essential for the tolerant window that favors birth transition from the sterile environment in the womb to the outside world but leaves neonates vulnerable to infection, which is still an important health issue. Neonates have a high morbidity and mortality rate due to infections, and the molecular reasons are still understudied. We asked whether the neonatal naive CD4+ T cells have a genomic program that predisposes them to a low response. Therefore, we evaluated the transcriptome and epigenome of human neonatal and adult naive CD4+ T cells. Our results point to a gene expression profile forming a distinct regulatory network in neonatal cells, which favors proliferation and a low T-cell response. Such expression profile is supported by a characteristic epigenetic landscape of neonatal CD4+ T cells, which correlates with the characteristic transcriptome of the neonatal cells. These results were confirmed by experiments showing a low response to activation signals, higher proliferation, and lower expression of cytokines of neonatal CD4+ T cells as compared to adult cells. Understanding this network could lead to novel vaccine formulations and better deal with life-threatening diseases during this highly vulnerable period of our lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Aimara Kempis-Calanis
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y de Sistemas, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Chamilpa 62209 Cuernavaca, México
| | - Otoniel Rodríguez-Jorge
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y de Sistemas, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Chamilpa 62209 Cuernavaca, México
| | - Darely Yarazeth Gutiérrez-Reyna
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y de Sistemas, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Chamilpa 62209 Cuernavaca, México
| | - Carlos Jesús Ventura-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y de Sistemas, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Chamilpa 62209 Cuernavaca, México
| | - Salvatore Spicuglia
- Aix-Marseille University, Inserm, TAGC, UMR1090, Equipe Labélisée LIGUE contre le Cancer, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Alejandra Medina-Rivera
- Laboratorio Internacional de Investigación sobre el Genoma Humano, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM 3002, Blvd. 3001, 76230 Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Denis Thieffry
- Département de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, 46 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Aitor González
- Aix-Marseille University, Inserm, TAGC, UMR1090, Equipe Labélisée LIGUE contre le Cancer, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - María Angélica Santana
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y de Sistemas, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Chamilpa 62209 Cuernavaca, México
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2
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Parvathaneni S, Yang J, Lotspeich-Cole L, Sakai J, Lee RC, Akkoyunlu M. IL6 suppresses vaccine responses in neonates by enhancing IL2 activity on T follicular helper cells. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:173. [PMID: 37938563 PMCID: PMC10632457 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00764-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The inability of neonates to develop CD4+FoxP3-CXCR5hiPD-1hi T follicular helper (TFH) cells contributes to their weak vaccine responses. In previous studies, we measured diminished IgG responses when IL-6 was co-injected with a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in neonatal mice. This is in sharp contrast to adults, where IL-6 improves vaccine responses by downregulating the expression of IL-2Rβ on TFH cells and protecting them from the inhibitory effect of IL-2. In this study, we found that splenic IL-6 levels rapidly increased in both adult and neonatal mice following immunization, but the increase in neonatal mice was significantly more than that of adult mice. Moreover, immunized neonatal TFH cells expressed significantly more IL-2 as well as its receptors, IL-2Rα and IL-2Rβ, than the adult cells. Remarkably, IL-6 co-injection with PCV vaccine further increased the production of IL-2 and the expression of its receptors by neonatal TFH cells, whereas excess IL-6 had totally opposite effect in immunized adult mice. Underscoring the role of IL-6 in activating the IL-2 mediated suppression of vaccine responses, immunization of IL-6 knock-out neonates led to improved antibody responses accompanied by expanded TFH cells as well as lower levels of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors on TFH cells. Moreover, CpG containing PCV improved TFH response in neonates by suppressing the expression of IL-2 receptors on TFH cells and inhibiting IL-2 activity. These findings unveil age-specific differences in IL-6 mediated vaccine responses and highlight the need to consider age-related immunobiological attributes in designing vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiyeon Yang
- US FDA/CBER/OVRR/DBPAP, 10903, New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Jiro Sakai
- US FDA/CBER/OVRR/DBPAP, 10903, New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Robert C Lee
- US FDA/CBER/OVRR/DBPAP, 10903, New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Mustafa Akkoyunlu
- US FDA/CBER/OVRR/DBPAP, 10903, New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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3
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Pieren DKJ, Boer MC, de Wit J. The adaptive immune system in early life: The shift makes it count. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1031924. [PMID: 36466865 PMCID: PMC9712958 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1031924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infectious diseases encountered early in life may result in life-threatening disease in neonates, which is primarily explained by the relatively naive neonatal immune system. Whereas vaccines are not readily available for all infectious diseases, vaccinations have greatly reduced childhood mortality. However, repeated vaccinations are required to reach protective immunity in infants and not all vaccinations are effective at young age. Moreover, protective adaptive immunity elicited by vaccination wanes more rapidly at young age compared to adulthood. The infant adaptive immune system has previously been considered immature but this paradigm has changed during the past years. Recent evidence shows that the early life adaptive immune system is equipped with a strong innate-like effector function to eliminate acute pathogenic threats. These strong innate-like effector capacities are in turn kept in check by a tolerogenic counterpart of the adaptive system that may have evolved to maintain balance and to reduce collateral damage. In this review, we provide insight into these aspects of the early life's adaptive immune system by addressing recent literature. Moreover, we speculate that this shift from innate-like and tolerogenic adaptive immune features towards formation of immune memory may underlie different efficacy of infant vaccination in these different phases of immune development. Therefore, presence of innate-like and tolerogenic features of the adaptive immune system may be used as a biomarker to improve vaccination strategies against respiratory and other infections in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jelle de Wit
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
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4
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TLR agonists induce sustained IgG to hemagglutinin stem and modulate T cells following newborn vaccination. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:102. [PMID: 36038596 PMCID: PMC9424286 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00523-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The newborn immune system is characterized by diminished immune responses that leave infants vulnerable to virus-mediated disease and make vaccination more challenging. Optimal vaccination strategies for influenza A virus (IAV) in newborns should result in robust levels of protective antibodies, including those with broad reactivity to combat the variability in IAV strains across seasons. The stem region of the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule is a target of such antibodies. Using a nonhuman primate model, we investigate the capacity of newborns to generate and maintain antibodies to the conserved stem region following vaccination. We find adjuvanting an inactivated vaccine with the TLR7/8 agonist R848 is effective in promoting sustained HA stem-specific IgG. Unexpectedly, HA stem-specific antibodies were generated with a distinct kinetic pattern compared to the overall response. Administration of R848 was associated with increased influenza-specific T follicular helper cells as well as Tregs with a less suppressive phenotype, suggesting adjuvant impacts multiple cell types that have the potential to contribute to the HA-stem response.
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5
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Bastow CR, Kara EE, Tyllis TS, Vinuesa CG, McColl SR, Comerford I. TFR Cells Express Functional CCR6 But It Is Dispensable for Their Development and Localization During Splenic Humoral Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:873586. [PMID: 35812408 PMCID: PMC9257258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.873586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicular T cells including T follicular helper (TFH) and T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells are essential in supporting and regulating the quality of antibody responses that develop in the germinal centre (GC). Follicular T cell migration during the propagation of antibody responses is largely attributed to the chemokine receptor CXCR5, however CXCR5 is reportedly redundant in migratory events prior to formation of the GC, and CXCR5-deficient TFH and TFR cells are still capable of localizing to GCs. Here we comprehensively assess chemokine receptor expression by follicular T cells during a model humoral immune response in the spleen. In addition to the known follicular T cell chemokine receptors Cxcr5 and Cxcr4, we show that follicular T cells express high levels of Ccr6, Ccr2 and Cxcr3 transcripts and we identify functional expression of CCR6 protein by both TFH and TFR cells. Notably, a greater proportion of TFR cells expressed CCR6 compared to TFH cells and gating on CCR6+CXCR5hiPD-1hi T cells strongly enriched for TFR cells. Examination of Ccr6-/- mice revealed that CCR6 is not essential for development of the GC response in the spleen, and mixed bone marrow chimera experiments found no evidence for an intrinsic requirement for CCR6 in TFR cell development or localisation during splenic humoral responses. These findings point towards multiple functionally redundant chemotactic signals regulating T cell localisation in the GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron R. Bastow
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ervin E. Kara
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Timona S. Tyllis
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Carola G. Vinuesa
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Shaun R. McColl
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Iain Comerford
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Iain Comerford,
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6
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Eddens T, Parks OB, Williams JV. Neonatal Immune Responses to Respiratory Viruses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:863149. [PMID: 35493465 PMCID: PMC9047724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns, infants, and young children. These early life infections present a formidable immunologic challenge with a number of possibly conflicting goals: simultaneously eliminate the acute pathogen, preserve the primary gas-exchange function of the lung parenchyma in a developing lung, and limit long-term sequelae of both the infection and the inflammatory response. The latter has been most well studied in the context of childhood asthma, where multiple epidemiologic studies have linked early life viral infection with subsequent bronchospasm. This review will focus on the clinical relevance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and rhinovirus (RV) and examine the protective and pathogenic host responses within the neonate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Eddens
- Pediatric Scientist Development Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Division of Allergy/Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Olivia B. Parks
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - John V. Williams
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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7
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Immunization of preterm infants: current evidence and future strategies to individualized approaches. Semin Immunopathol 2022; 44:767-784. [PMID: 35922638 PMCID: PMC9362650 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00957-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Preterm infants are at particularly high risk for infectious diseases. As this vulnerability extends beyond the neonatal period into childhood and adolescence, preterm infants benefit greatly from infection-preventive measures such as immunizations. However, there is an ongoing discussion about vaccine safety and efficacy due to preterm infants' distinct immunological features. A significant proportion of infants remains un- or under-immunized when discharged from primary hospital stay. Educating health care professionals and parents, promoting maternal immunization and evaluating the potential of new vaccination tools are important means to reduce the overall burden from infectious diseases in preterm infants. In this narrative review, we summarize the current knowledge about vaccinations in premature infants. We discuss the specificities of early life immunity and memory function, including the role of polyreactive B cells, restricted B cell receptor diversity and heterologous immunity mediated by a cross-reactive T cell repertoire. Recently, mechanistic studies indicated that tissue-resident memory (Trm) cell populations including T cells, B cells and macrophages are already established in the fetus. Their role in human early life immunity, however, is not yet understood. Tissue-resident memory T cells, for example, are diminished in airway tissues in neonates as compared to older children or adults. Hence, the ability to make specific recall responses after secondary infectious stimulus is hampered, a phenomenon that is transcriptionally regulated by enhanced expression of T-bet. Furthermore, the microbiome establishment is a dominant factor to shape resident immunity at mucosal surfaces, but it is often disturbed in the context of preterm birth. The proposed function of Trm T cells to remember benign interactions with the microbiome might therefore be reduced which would contribute to an increased risk for sustained inflammation. An improved understanding of Trm interactions may determine novel targets of vaccination, e.g., modulation of T-bet responses and facilitate more individualized approaches to protect preterm babies in the future.
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8
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Oyong DA, Loughland JR, Soon MSF, Chan JA, Andrew D, Wines BD, Hogarth PM, Olver SD, Collinge AD, Varelias A, Beeson JG, Kenangalem E, Price RN, Anstey NM, Minigo G, Boyle MJ. Adults with Plasmodium falciparum malaria have higher magnitude and quality of circulating T-follicular helper cells compared to children. EBioMedicine 2022; 75:103784. [PMID: 34968760 PMCID: PMC8718734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protective malarial antibodies are acquired more rapidly in adults than children, independently of cumulative exposure, however the cellular responses mediating these differences are unknown. CD4 T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells have key roles in inducing antibodies, with Th2-Tfh cell activation associated with antibody development in malaria. Whether Tfh cell activation in malaria is age dependent is unknown and no studies have compared Tfh cell activation in children and adults with malaria. METHODS We undertook a comprehensive study of Tfh cells, along with B cells and antibody induction in children and adults with malaria. Activation and proliferation of circulating Tfh (cTfh) cell subsets was measured ex vivo and parasite-specific Tfh cell frequencies and functions studied with Activation Induced Marker (AIM) assays and intracellular cytokine staining. FINDINGS During acute malaria, the magnitude of cTfh cell activation was higher in adults than in children and occurred across all cTfh cell subsets in adults but was restricted only to the Th1-cTfh subset in children. Further, adults had higher levels of parasite-specific cTfh cells, and cTfh cells which produced more Th2-Tfh associated cytokine IL-4. Consistent with a role of higher Tfh cell activation in rapid immune development in adults, adults had higher activation of B cells during infection and higher induction of antibodies 7 and 28 days after malaria compared to children. INTERPRETATION Our data provide evidence that age impacts Tfh cell activation during malaria, and that these differences may influence antibody induction after treatment. Findings have important implications for vaccine development in children. FUNDING This word was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Wellcome Trust, Charles Darwin University Menzies School of Health Research, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation, and National Health Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian A Oyong
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Jessica R Loughland
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Megan S F Soon
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Chan
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dean Andrew
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Bruce D Wines
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, VIC, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - P Mark Hogarth
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, VIC, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stuart D Olver
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alika D Collinge
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Antiopi Varelias
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Microbiology, Monash University, VIC, Australia
| | - Enny Kenangalem
- Timika Malaria Research Program, Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation, Timika, Papua, Indonesia; District Health Authority, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Ric N Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Gabriela Minigo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia.
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9
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Pyle CJ, Labeur-Iurman L, Groves HT, Puttur F, Lloyd CM, Tregoning JS, Harker JA. Enhanced IL-2 in early life limits the development of TFH and protective antiviral immunity. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20201555. [PMID: 34665220 PMCID: PMC8529914 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T follicular helper cell (TFH)-dependent antibody responses are critical for long-term immunity. Antibody responses are diminished in early life, limiting long-term protective immunity and allowing prolonged or recurrent infection, which may be important for viral lung infections that are highly prevalent in infancy. In a murine model using respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), we show that TFH and the high-affinity antibody production they promote are vital for preventing disease on RSV reinfection. Following a secondary RSV infection, TFH-deficient mice had significantly exacerbated disease characterized by delayed viral clearance, increased weight loss, and immunopathology. TFH generation in early life was compromised by heightened IL-2 and STAT5 signaling in differentiating naive T cells. Neutralization of IL-2 during early-life RSV infection resulted in a TFH-dependent increase in antibody-mediated immunity and was sufficient to limit disease severity upon reinfection. These data demonstrate the importance of TFH in protection against recurrent RSV infection and highlight a mechanism by which this is suppressed in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe J. Pyle
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Lucia Labeur-Iurman
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Helen T. Groves
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, St. Mary’s Campus, London, UK
| | - Franz Puttur
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Clare M. Lloyd
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
- Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms for Asthma, London, UK
| | - John S. Tregoning
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, St. Mary’s Campus, London, UK
| | - James A. Harker
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, UK
- Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms for Asthma, London, UK
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10
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Clemens EA, Alexander-Miller MA. Understanding Antibody Responses in Early Life: Baby Steps towards Developing an Effective Influenza Vaccine. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071392. [PMID: 34372597 PMCID: PMC8310046 DOI: 10.3390/v13071392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system of young infants is both quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from that of adults, with diminished responsiveness leaving these individuals vulnerable to infection. Because of this, young infants suffer increased morbidity and mortality from respiratory pathogens such as influenza viruses. The impaired generation of robust and persistent antibody responses in these individuals makes overcoming this increased vulnerability through vaccination challenging. Because of this, an effective vaccine against influenza viruses in infants under 6 months is not available. Furthermore, vaccination against influenza viruses is challenging even in adults due to the high antigenic variability across viral strains, allowing immune evasion even after induction of robust immune responses. This has led to substantial interest in understanding how specific antibody responses are formed to variable and conserved components of influenza viruses, as immune responses tend to strongly favor recognition of variable epitopes. Elicitation of broadly protective antibody in young infants, therefore, requires that both the unique characteristics of young infant immunity as well as the antibody immunodominance present among epitopes be effectively addressed. Here, we review our current understanding of the antibody response in newborns and young infants and discuss recent developments in vaccination strategies that can modulate both magnitude and epitope specificity of IAV-specific antibody.
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11
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Soon MSF, Nalubega M, Boyle MJ. T-follicular helper cells in malaria infection and roles in antibody induction. OXFORD OPEN IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 2:iqab008. [PMID: 36845571 PMCID: PMC9914587 DOI: 10.1093/oxfimm/iqab008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunity to malaria is mediated by antibodies that block parasite replication to limit parasite burden and prevent disease. Cytophilic antibodies have been consistently shown to be associated with protection, and recent work has improved our understanding of the direct and Fc-mediated mechanisms of protective antibodies. Antibodies also have important roles in vaccine-mediated immunity. Antibody induction is driven by the specialized CD4+ T cells, T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which function within the germinal centre to drive B-cell activation and antibody induction. In humans, circulating Tfh cells can be identified in peripheral blood and are differentiated into subsets that appear to have pathogen/vaccination-specific roles in antibody induction. Tfh cell responses are essential for protective immunity from Plasmodium infection in murine models of malaria. Our understanding of the activation of Tfh cells during human malaria infection and the importance of different Tfh cell subsets in antibody development is still emerging. This review will discuss our current knowledge of Tfh cell activation and development in malaria, and the potential avenues and pitfalls of targeting Tfh cells to improve malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S F Soon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, QIMR-Berghofer, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Mayimuna Nalubega
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Tororo District Hospital, Tororo, Uganda
| | - Michelle J Boyle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, QIMR-Berghofer, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia,Correspondence address. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia. E-mail:
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12
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Semmes EC, Chen JL, Goswami R, Burt TD, Permar SR, Fouda GG. Understanding Early-Life Adaptive Immunity to Guide Interventions for Pediatric Health. Front Immunol 2021; 11:595297. [PMID: 33552052 PMCID: PMC7858666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.595297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants are capable of mounting adaptive immune responses, but their ability to develop long-lasting immunity is limited. Understanding the particularities of the neonatal adaptive immune system is therefore critical to guide the design of immune-based interventions, including vaccines, in early life. In this review, we present a thorough summary of T cell, B cell, and humoral immunity in early life and discuss infant adaptive immune responses to pathogens and vaccines. We focus on the differences between T and B cell responses in early life and adulthood, which hinder the generation of long-lasting adaptive immune responses in infancy. We discuss how knowledge of early life adaptive immunity can be applied when developing vaccine strategies for this unique period of immune development. In particular, we emphasize the use of novel vaccine adjuvants and optimization of infant vaccine schedules. We also propose integrating maternal and infant immunization strategies to ensure optimal neonatal protection through passive maternal antibody transfer while avoiding hindering infant vaccine responses. Our review highlights that the infant adaptive immune system is functionally distinct and uniquely regulated compared to later life and that these particularities should be considered when designing interventions to promote pediatric health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C. Semmes
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Children’s Health and Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jui-Lin Chen
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ria Goswami
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Trevor D. Burt
- Children’s Health and Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Children’s Health and Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Genevieve G. Fouda
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Children’s Health and Discovery Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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