Measuring T cell immunity to influenza vaccination in children after haemopoietic stem cell transplantation

Br J Haematol. 2004 Nov;127(3):322-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05204.x.

Abstract

Quantitative assessment of immunogen-specific T cell responses may provide a meaningful surrogate marker of functional immunity in patients following haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We developed a flow-cytometric assay to quantify antigen-specific T cell immunity to influenza-A and studied the T cell response to influenza vaccination in five children, 3-21 months post-HSCT. All patients showed an increase in influenza-A-specific CD4(+) immunity following vaccination while none had a detectable IgG response to the vaccine. This assay proved sufficiently sensitive to evaluate changes in T cell memory in immunocompromised individuals and could be used to better characterize post-HSCT immune reconstitution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • Influenza Vaccines