Bordetella pertussisInfection in 2-Month-Old Infants Promotes Type 1 T Cell Responses

Abstract

Neonatal immaturity of the immune system is currently believed to generally limit the induction of immune responses to vaccine Ags and to skew them toward type 2 responses. We demonstrated here that Bordetella pertussis infection in very young infants (median, 2 mo old) as well as the first administration of whole-cell pertussis vaccine induces B. pertussis Ag-specific IFN-γ secretion by the PBMC of these infants. IFN-γ was secreted by both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and the levels of Ag-induced IFN-γ secretion did not correlate with the age of the infants. Appearance of the specific Th-1 cell-mediated immunity was accompanied by a general shift of the cytokine secretion profile of these infants toward a stronger Th1 profile, as evidenced by the response to a polyclonal stimulation. We conclude that the immune system of 2-mo-old infants is developmentally mature enough to develop Th1 responses in vivo upon infection by B. pertussis or vaccination with whole-cell pertussis vaccines.

Lipopolysaccharides from Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis Differently Modulate Human Dendritic Cell Functions Resulting in Divergent Prevalence of Th17-Polarized Responses

“…Several earlier studies indicated that B. pertussis infection promotes a Th1 immune response, based largely on IFN-␥ production (37)(38)(39). We have previously demonstrated that incubation of human MDDC with B. pertussis induced a Th1 predominant polarization and expression of IL-23, involved in Th17 cell expansion, in the absence of the Th1-inducing cytokine IL-12p70 (21,22).…”

Pertussis Toxin Reduces the Number of Splenic Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells

“…This 105-kDa protein complex is produced by Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for whooping cough in humans. PTx is immunogenic and involved in the pathogenesis of B. pertussis infection (7,8) and, therefore, has been included in some acellular pertussis vaccines in a chemically or genetically detoxified form (9).…”

Resurgence of pertussis calls for re-evaluation of pertussis animal models

“…These responses have been associated with a variety of functional cytokines [11,13,60,61]. Recovery from whooping cough in older infants is associated with induction of T lymphocytes producing Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 [61]. Studies in very young children (2 months of age) show that natural infection with B. pertussis or a first administration of WCV can promote maturation of Th1-type responses [61,62].…”

“…Recovery from whooping cough in older infants is associated with induction of T lymphocytes producing Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 [61]. Studies in very young children (2 months of age) show that natural infection with B. pertussis or a first administration of WCV can promote maturation of Th1-type responses [61,62]. By contrast, the widely used ACV vaccines also induce Th2-type cytokine (IL-4 and IL-5) responses to concomitant vaccine antigens in infants [60,62], becoming more pronounced when given closer to birth [63,64].…”

“…These responses have been associated with a variety of functional cytokines [11,13,60,61]. Recovery from whooping cough in older infants is associated with induction of T lymphocytes producing Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 [61].…”