Comments on the Neonatal Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination: Adding Notes in Proof of Nonspecific Effect

In vitro T-cell profile induced by BCG Moreau in healthy Brazilian volunteers

“…5 Our preceding studies support the premise that BCG induces distinct cell-death patterns during the maturation of the immune system. 6,7 In the study, we observed increasing apoptosis events in BCG-stimulated monocytes from healthy, vaccinated adults, associated with a release of IL-1b and TNF-a, but not metalloproteinase-9. Conversely, higher monocytes necrosis, but not apoptosis, was observed following the infection of umbilical vein cells from na€ ıve, neonates.…”

“…The ELISPOT data provided evidences that in vitro Th1-immune response of neonates was deficient when cells were in contact with recombinant antigens, except for a positive immune response against the mitogen. 7 Our IFN-gamma release assay results are notable since this has not been done using umbilical vein cells from na€ ıve individuals before. Nevertheless, a study by Watkins and colleagues (2008) has shown productions of IFN-g, IL-10, IL-12, IL-5 and IL-13, but no IL-4, in a maximum of 6 days-stimulated CBMC cultures.…”

Notes for the Immune Responses in Neonates: Commonly Expected Dampening of the Type-1 Associated Immunity during BCG Vaccination

“…The ELISPOT assays performed in our studies showed that the in vitro Th-1-immune response of the umbilical cord blood (UV) was deficient related to the healthy donor adults (HD) group when cells were placed in contact with one BCG-recombinant antigen with immunodominant property, as well as a potent mitogen [3]. Thus, our previous findings support the hypothesis that BCG induces distinct cell-death patterns involving maturation of the immune system and that these patterns might set the stage for a subsequent antimycobacterial immune response.…”

“…Regarding the BCG vaccine, we would like to comment on our recent published data that is both important and relevant [3,4]. The ELISPOT assays performed in our studies showed that the in vitro Th-1-immune response of the umbilical cord blood (UV) was deficient related to the healthy donor adults (HD) group when cells were placed in contact with one BCG-recombinant antigen with immunodominant property, as well as a potent mitogen [3].…”

Comments on the elevated IL-27 expression in neonates: Relevance between detecting nucleotide sequence or protein synthesized

“…Of note, BCG vaccination in Brazil is universal after birth since 1967; and in 1929, initial protocols recommended BCG vaccination during the first ten days subsequent to birth [6]. One could further assay cord blood cells in groups of children, using the model proposed elsewhere [5,7], both before and after the BCG vaccination for comparison purposes.…”