The JI
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gans, H. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arvin, A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gans, H. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arvin, A. M.
The Journal of Immunology, 1999, 162: 5569-5575.
Copyright © 1999 by The American Association of Immunologists

IL-12, IFN-{gamma}, and T Cell Proliferation to Measles in Immunized Infants1

Hayley A. Gans2,*, Yvonne Maldonado*, Linda L. Yasukawa*, Judy Beeler{dagger}, Susette Audet{dagger}, Mary M. Rinki*, Ross DeHovitz{ddagger} and Ann M. Arvin*

* Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305; {dagger} Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20867; and {ddagger} Department of Pediatrics, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Palo Alto, CA 94301


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Measles infection in infants is associated with severe complications, and secondary infections are attributed to generalized immunosuppression. Measles binding to its monocyte receptor down-regulates IL-12 which is expected to diminish Th1-like cytokine responses, including IFN-{gamma}. Whether young infants can be immunized effectively against measles is an important public health issue. We evaluated Ag-specific IL-12, IFN-{gamma}, and T cell responses of infants at 6 (n = 60), 9 (n = 46), or 12 mo (n = 56) of age and 29 vaccinated adults. IL-12 and IFN-{gamma} release by PBMC stimulated with measles Ag increased significantly after measles immunization in infants. IL-12 and IFN-{gamma} concentrations were equivalent in younger and older infants, but IL-12 concentrations were significantly lower in infants than in adults (p = 0.04). IL-12 production by monocytes was down-regulated by measles; the addition of recombinant human IL-12 enhanced IFN-{gamma} production by PBMC stimulated with measles Ag, but infant T cells released significantly less IFN-{gamma} than adult T cells under this condition. Of particular interest, the presence of passive Abs to measles had no effect on the specific T cell proliferation or IFN-{gamma} production after measles stimulation. Cellular immunity to measles infection and vaccination may be limited in infants compared with adults as a result of less effective IFN-{gamma} and IL-12 production in response to measles Ags. These effects were not exaggerated in younger infants compared with effects in infants who were immunized at 12 mo. In summary, infant T cells were primed with measles Ag despite the presence of passive Abs, but their adaptive immune responses were limited compared with those of adults.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Measles is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in many countries (1, 2, 3). In recent outbreaks in the United States, the incidence and mortality rates of measles were highest among children <12 mo old (4). Infants are at risk for measles pneumonia, suggesting an inadequate capacity to limit viral dissemination, and are susceptible to secondary infections, indicating that measles induces a generalized immunosuppression (1, 3, 5, 6, 7). Host responses assessed during and after measles infection, or immunization with live attenuated measles vaccines, exhibit immunologic patterns consistent with a diminished Th1 response or a polarization toward Th2 activation (5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to other Ags, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mitogen-stimulated T cell proliferation, and release of IL-2 and IFN-{gamma} are diminished, and NK cell function is reduced (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). In addition, nonspecific, spontaneous release of IL4 by circulating PBMC and total IgE concentrations are increased (11, 20).

Measles virus infects monocytes through binding to the CD46 surface protein, which acts as a measles-specific entry mediator (21, 22, 23). Karp et al. (24) have demonstrated that measles binding to CD46 results in down-regulation of IL-12 production. Based on the Th1/Th2 model of CD4+ T cell responses, decreased IL-12 release would be expected to favor predominance of a Th2-like response, because IL-12 is a crucial early stimulus for Th1 clonal expansion. IL-12 stimulates resting and activated T cells, induces the production of IFN-{gamma} by T cells, activates NK cells, and inhibits IL-4 production (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31). Since IL-12 promotes the rapid induction of Ag-specific T cells in the naive host, decreased IL-12 production could impair the acquisition of adaptive immunity to measles and facilitate a generalized immunosuppression by failure to regulate IL-4 production. The purpose of this study was to compare virus-specific T cell responses in infants and adults with vaccine-induced measles immunity, using assays for IL-12 production, T cell proliferation, and IFN-{gamma} release by PBMC stimulated with measles. Our hypothesis was that infants might have a limited Th1-like response to measles compared with adults.

The evaluation of adaptive immunity to measles vaccination in infants who are younger than 12 mo has important clinical relevance because it would be advantageous to achieve protective immunity as early as possible during the first year of life. Potential obstacles to immunization of younger infants against measles include neutralization of the live attenuated vaccine virus by measles Abs acquired transplacentally and immaturity of the immune system (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39). We and others have shown that passive Abs to measles interfere with vaccine-induced humoral immunity, but little is known about the effects of maternally derived measles Abs on induction of virus-specific cell-mediated immunity (40, 41, 42, 43). Infants whose mothers have measles vaccine-induced immunity lose passive Abs at a shorter interval after birth than those who receive higher concentrations of measles Abs because their mothers have had natural measles (37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46). In a recent study, we showed that the humoral response to measles vaccine was deficient in 6-mo-old infants compared with 9 and 12-mo-old infants even when passively acquired Abs were not detectable (41). This further evaluation of measles-specific T cell responses in infants was undertaken to assess whether there are differences in proliferation, IL-12 or IFN-{gamma} responses when younger infants are immunized with measles vaccine, and whether passive Abs affect these cell-mediated immune responses.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Study population

The study subjects were 162 healthy infants, without intercurrent illnesses, who were 6 mo (n = 60), 9 mo (n = 46), or 12 mo old (n = 56) and healthy adults (n = 29; age 20–40 yr). Infants were enrolled if they were 6 mo (range, +3 wk), 9 mo (range, ±3 wk), or 12 mo (range, +3 wk). Children born before 36 wk gestation, whose birth weight was <2500 g, or who had chronic underlying illnesses were excluded. Among the infants who were enrolled, 2 infants were withdrawn as participants before blood samples were obtained and 26 infants were evaluated only before measles immunization, including 7 who were 6 mo old, 4 who were 9 mo old, and 15 who were 12 mo old. Prevaccine specimens as well as samples taken 12 ± 3 wk after measles vaccination were available from 134 infants; because of limitations in the numbers of PBMC recovered, not all assays were performed in all infants. The study was approved by the Stanford University Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and the Institutional Review Board of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation; written consent was obtained from parents or guardians and adult participants. No cases of measles were identified in our geographic area during the study period.

Infants 6 and 9 mo old were immunized with measles virus vaccine live (Attenuvax (Merck, West Point, PA)) containing 1000 median tissue culture-infective doses (TCID50) of the U.S. reference measles virus. Twelve-month-old infants were immunized with M-M-R virus vaccine live (Merck; containing measles virus vaccine live, 1000 TCID50). Adults had received at least one measles vaccination years before evaluation.

T cell proliferation assay

PBMC were separated from whole blood by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient and added to 96-well microtiter plates at concentrations of 3.0 x 105/well in RPMI 1640 (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD), and 10% normal human sera (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Measles Ag, prepared from lysates of Vero cells inoculated with Attenuvax measles vaccine (more attenuated Enders’ strain, Merck) or an uninfected cell control were added at dilutions of 1:16 and 1:32 to triplicate wells for testing infant PBMC and in quadruplicate wells for adults. Adult PBMC were also incubated with Ag and control at a 1:64 dilution. Preliminary studies were performed with multiple measles Ag dilutions (range, 1:16–1:512); dilutions of 1:16 and 1:32 stimulated T cells from all positive donors. The highest stimulation index (SI)3 from either concentration was used for statistical analysis, since subjects respond to Ag concentrations differently. The measles Ag used in these studies was not inactivated because pilot experiments documented no differences when T cells were stimulated with live or inactivated measles Ag. Recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12), with a bioactivity of 7.7 x 107 U/ml, was generously provided by Genetics Institute (Cambridge, MA). In some experiments, rhIL-12 was added to PBMC stimulated with measles Ag or uninfected cell control at 20, 40, and 60 U/ml or 1.2, 2.4, and 3.5 ng/ml, respectively. Preliminary studies were performed with multiple concentrations of rhIL-12, based on published experience and consultation with the manufacturer; additional concentrations above and below these standards were also tested. The optimal rhIL-12 concentrations were used for subsequent assays. T cell proliferation was measured by adding [3H]thymidine after 5 days (1.25 µCi/ml) for 6–18 h. The SI was calculated as the mean cpm in measles Ag-stimulated wells divided by the mean cpm in control wells. The highest SI from either concentration of measles Ag in the presence or absence of rhIL-12 was used for statistical analysis. An SI of 3.0 or higher was considered positive, based on the mean SI + SD of responses in infants before measles vaccination. The mean cpm in background wells were compared between infant groups to assure that no significant age-related differences existed that might influence SI results. PBMC were also stimulated with PHA, 0.01 mg/ml (Difco, Detroit, MI).

Cytokine production

Supernatants from PBMC stimulated with measles Ag or uninfected cell control were collected from wells on days 4–8, stored at -70°C. Supernatants were tested for the p40 and p70 subunit of human IL-12 using the ELISA ultrasensitive assay (Biosource, Camarillo, CA) and for IFN-{gamma} using the ELISA method from Endogen (Cambridge, MA). Supernatants from PBMC stimulated with measles Ag or uninfected cell control, in the presence or absence of rhIL-12 (added at 50 or 100 U/ml or 2.9 and 5.8 ng/ml, respectively), were collected on days 4–8, stored at -70°C, and tested for IFN-{gamma}. The optimal concentrations of rhIL-12 were established in preliminary assays and used for all subsequent tests; peak values from either concentration were used for statistical analysis. Sensitivities of cytokine detection were defined by reference standards in each assay.

Monocyte isolation and stimulation

Monocytes were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from whole blood from adult subjects and incubated with measles at a multiplicity of infection of 5, or with an uninfected Vero cell control, under nonadherent conditions. Monocytes were then enriched by adherence to culture flasks and added to 96-well plates at concentrations of 2 x 105/well in RPMI 1640 (Life Technologies), and 10% normal human sera (Sigma). Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain 1, 0.0075% (Calbiochem, La Jolla, CA), was added to monocyte cultures after 60 h; after 24 h, supernatants were collected and tested for the p40 and p70 subunit of human IL-12 using the ELISA ultrasensitive assay (Biosource). All cell reagents were LPS free to the limits of detection of the Limulus amebocyte lysate pyrogen kit (1–2.3 pg/ml) (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, MD).

Measles Ab assays

Sera were obtained from infant participants on the day that vaccine was given to determine whether passive Abs were present at the time of immunization. Sera were stored at -80°C and tested for measles-neutralizing Ab using a modified plaque reduction neutralization (PRN) assay (47). The PRN assay was used because of its superiority in detection of low titers of measles Abs compared with commercial ELISA methods (48). Briefly, serial fourfold dilutions of heat-inactivated serum (1:4–1:4096) were mixed with an equal volume of a low passage strain of Edmonston measles virus containing 25–35 PFU. Each serum dilution was incubated in duplicate in 24-well plates with Vero cell monolayers for 1 h and 45 min at 36°C in 5% CO2. The PRN titer was defined as the serum dilution that reduced the plaque number by 50%. Titers <1:4 were considered negative and were assigned a value of 1 for statistical analysis. Seroconversion was defined as a fourfold rise in Ab titer after levels before vaccination were corrected for decay over three half-lives.

Statistical analysis

Comparison of T cell and cytokine responses in the same patient were evaluated by Student’s paired t test, whereas comparisons between patients were analyzed using a Student’s unpaired t test. ANOVA was performed to discern differences in the means between more than two groups. The {chi}2 and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the number of vaccinees in each cohort with proliferation responses. Values of p <= 0.05 were considered significant.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Measles-specific T cell proliferation responses in relation to age at immunization

T cell proliferation after stimulation of PBMC with measles Ag was evaluated in 119 infants who were 6 mo (n = 49), 9 mo (n = 36), or 12 mo (n = 34) old and in 29 adults (Fig. 1GoA). T cell responses to measles were detected after immunization in all of the infant age groups; the mean SI ± SE increased from 2.0 ± 0.2 to 6.1 ± 0.8 in 6-mo-old (p = 0.001), from 2.1 ± 0.3 to 6.6 ± 1.6 in 9-mo-old (p = 0.01), and from 1.4 ± 0.1 to 5.6 ± 0.9 in 12-mo-old (p = 0.0002) infants. The mean SI after vaccination did not differ by age cohort. In addition, there were no age-related differences among the infants when the percentage who had detectable T cell proliferation to measles, defined as SI > 3.0, was compared. Responses were detected in 71% of 6-mo-old, 69% of 9-mo-old, and 62% of 12-mo-old infants. The percentage of adults with SI > 3.0 was 86%, which was not significantly higher than the 68% in infants. However, the mean SI in vaccinated infants was 6.1 ± 0.66, which was significantly lower than the mean SI of 11.3 ± 1.9 in adults (p = 0.002) (Fig. 1GoA).



View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 1. T cell proliferation, IL-12, and IFN-{gamma} production before and 12 wk after measles immunization. A, SI (calculated as the mean cpm in measles Ag-stimulated wells divided by the mean cpm in control wells) to measles Ag before ({blacksquare}) and 12 wk after () measles vaccination in infants who were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of immunization and in vaccinated adults. Error bars represent SEs. A positive SI is defined as 3 or greater. B, IL-12 concentration (pg/ml) before ({blacksquare}) and 12 wk after () measles immunization in infants and in vaccinated adults. Infants were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of immunization. Error bars represent SEs. C, IFN-{gamma} concentration (picograms/ml) before ({blacksquare}) and 12 wk after () measles immunization in infants and in vaccinated adults. Infants were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of immunization. Error bars represent SEs.

 
IL-12 production to measles in relation to age at immunization

IL-12 production elicited by measles Ag was evaluated in 67 infants, including 37 who were 6 mo old, 16 who were 9 mo, and 14 who were 12 mo old, and in 13 adults. Mean IL-12 concentrations (±SE) before vaccination were 6.2 ± 2.4, 3.0 ± 1.1, and 7.0 ± 3.8 pg/ml compared with levels after vaccination of 21.3 ± 7.5, 17.9 ± 7.2, and 13.2 ± 5.9 pg/ml, in the 6-, 9-, and 12-mo-old infants, respectively (Fig. 1GoB). When the infants were evaluated as one group, there was a significant increase in IL-12 levels after compared with before measles vaccine (p = 0.01). No significant differences were seen when IL-12 responses were compared between the infant groups but the mean IL-12 concentration after vaccination of infants was 19.6 ± 4.4, which was statistically lower than the mean IL-12 concentration of 41.4 ± 11.7 pg/ml measured in adults (p = 0.04) (Fig. 1GoB).

IFN-{gamma} production to measles in relation to age at immunization

IFN-{gamma} concentrations were measured in 65 infants who were 6 mo (n = 30), 9 mo (n = 23), or 12 mo (n = 12) old and in 13 adults. An Ag-specific response was observed in each infant age group (Fig. 1GoC). IFN-{gamma} concentrations (±SE) before and after vaccination were 21.1 ± 5.5 pg/ml vs 197.7 ± 59.7 pg/ml (p = 0.002), 38.9 ± 16 pg/ml vs 304.3 ± 100.7 pg/ml (p = 0.01), and 42.6 ± 13.7 pg/ml vs 110.5 ± 27.8 pg/ml (p = 0.04) in the 6-, 9-, and 12-mo-old infants, respectively. No significant differences were found when IFN-{gamma} concentrations were compared among the infant groups or when the mean of 213.2 ± 43.4 pg/ml for all infants was compared with the mean IFN-{gamma} concentration of 404.7 ± 124.7 pg/ml measured in adults (Fig. 1GoC).

Effect of passive Abs to measles on measles-specific T cell proliferation and cytokine responses in infants

The presence of passive Abs did not affect the frequency with which T cell proliferation to measles was elicited after vaccination of infants (Fig. 2GoA). Twenty-six of 42 infants who were 6 mo old had passive Abs, compared with 15 of 35 infants 9 mo old and 0 of 36 infants 12 mo old. No significant differences were detected when the mean SI of infants with passive Abs within each age cohort was compared with the mean SI in infants with no detectable Abs. When data for all age groups were combined, the mean SI of infants who had passive Abs was 5.7 ± 0.92 compared with 5.8 ± 1.1 in those who had none (p = 1.0). Cohorting 6- and 9-mo-old infants according to titer of passive Ab present before vaccination, at both 1:25 and 1:80, did not correlate with decreasing T cell responses, as has been described with humoral immune responses in infants (49, 50).



View larger version (21K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 2. T cell proliferation and IL-12 and IFN-{gamma} production in the presence and absence of passive Abs. A, SI to measles Ag 12 wk after measles vaccination of infants in the presence ({blacksquare}) and absence () of passive Abs. Infants were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of immunization and represent the same infant group as reported in Fig. 1Go. B, IL-12 concentration (picograms/ml) in infants 12 wk after measles immunization in the presence ({blacksquare}) and absence () of passive Abs. C, IFN-{gamma} concentration (picograms/ml) in infants 12 wk after measles immunization in the presence ({blacksquare}) and absence () of passive Abs.

 
Passive Abs had no adverse effect on measles-induced IL-12 release by PBMC after vaccination of infants (Fig. 2GoB). The mean IL-12 concentration was 29.2 ± 9.5 in 17 infants who had passive Abs compared with 9.2 ± 1.9 among 22 infants who had none (p = 0.03).

Passive Abs had no significant effect on IFN-{gamma} production in response to measles Ag after immunization (Fig. 2GoC). Of 16 infants who had passive Abs, the mean IFN-{gamma} concentration was 105.9 ± 36.5 compared with 235.1 ± 62.6 among 32 infants who had none (p = 0.2).

Effect of measles immunization on mitogen-induced T cell proliferation in relation to age

Infants were tested for T cell proliferation to PHA responses just before and 3 mo after vaccination. The mean cpm ± SE in PHA-stimulated cultures of PBMC were not statistically different among the infant groups or when measured before immunization and 3 mo later (data not shown). The mean cpm for all infants tested after immunization was 43,500 ± 2,900, which was significantly lower than the mean cpm of 58,000 ± 6,700 observed in adults (p = 0.03) (Fig. 3Go).



View larger version (42K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 3. T cell proliferative responses to PHA of infants before and 12 wk after measles immunization and of vaccinated adults. Shown are the mean cpm after stimulation with PHA (0.01 mg/ml) in infants before ({blacksquare}) and 12 wk after () measles immunization and vaccinated adults. Infants were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of vaccination. Error bars represent SEs.

 
Measles virus-induced suppression of IL-12 production by monocytes

The experiment described by Karp et al. was repeated to confirm that the measles virus used to prepare measles Ag for T cell proliferation and cytokine assays had the capacity to suppress IL-12 production by monocytes to concentrations equivalent to those measured in control wells. Furthermore, addition of S.aureus Cowan strain 1 stimulated IL-12 production in control Vero cell cultures but had no effect on human monocytes cultured with measles Ag (data not shown).

Effects of rhIL-12 on measles-specific T cell proliferation and IFN-{gamma} production

T cell proliferation was measured in 11 vaccinated adults after stimulation with measles Ag alone and with the addition of rhIL-12. All the adults had a positive SI to measles (SI > 3), with a mean SI ± SE of 14.1 ± 2.9. No difference in measles-induced T cell proliferation was demonstrated when rhIL-12 was added. The mean SI was 7.4 ± 1.5 (p = 0.06).

IFN-{gamma} release by T cells from 6 adults was measured at Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after incubation with measles Ag alone, measles and rhIL-12, or rhIL-12 alone. IFN-{gamma} concentrations were higher when PBMC were stimulated with measles in the presence of rhIL-12 compared with measles Ag alone (p = 0.02) or rhIL-12 alone (p = 0.0003) (Fig. 4Go). The peak difference was observed on Day 7, with mean IFN-{gamma} concentrations of 1634.12 ± 196.0 in the measles-stimulated wells with rhIL-12 added.



View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 4. IFN-{gamma} production in infants before and 12 wk after measles vaccination in the presence and absence of IL-12. Shown is the IFN-{gamma} concentration (picograms/ml) in infants before ({blacksquare}) and 12 wk after () measles immunization in the presence and absence of IL-12 (50 or 100 U/ml). Infants were 6, 9, or 12 mo of age at time of immunization. Error bars represent SEs.

 
When 15 vaccinated infants were tested, the addition of rhIL-12 to PBMC stimulated with measles Ag also resulted in a significant increase in IFN-{gamma} production by T cells (Fig. 5Go). The mean IFN-{gamma} concentrations in measles-stimulated wells were 151.8 ± 55.6 pg/ml compared with 747.3 ± 180.2 in the presence of rhIL-12 and measles Ag (p = 0.01) (Fig. 5Go). The peak IFN-{gamma} concentration after rhIL-12 and measles stimulation in children was 747.3 ± 180.2 which was significantly lower than the peak of 1634.2 ± 196 from adult PBMC stimulated with measles and rhIL-12 (p = 0.01).



View larger version (16K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIGURE 5. IFN-{gamma} production to measles over time in vaccinated adults in the presence and absence of IL-12. Shown is the IFN-{gamma} concentration (picograms/ml) on odd days 1–7 in vaccinated adults in the presence of measles ({blacktriangleup}), IL-12 ({blacksquare}), and measles with IL-12 (50 or 100 U/ml) (•). Error bars represent SEs.

 
Measles-specific humoral immune responses

Measles-neutralizing Ab titers before vaccination were 13 (95% confidence interval, 7–26), 4 (95% confidence interval, 2–8), and 1 (95% confidence interval, 1–1) in the 6-, 9-, and 12-mo-old infant, respectively. Twelve weeks after measles vaccination, neutralizing Ab titers rose to 76 (95% confidence interval, 37–156), 353 (95% confidence interval, 164–756), and 1023 (95% confidence interval, 756-1704) in the 6-, 9-, and 12 mo-old-infants, respectively (6 vs 9 mo, p = 0.0002; 6 vs 12 mo, p = 0.0001; 9 vs 12 mo, p = 0.01). As previously reported, in the absence of detectable passive Abs, seroconversion and neutralizing Ab titers of 6-mo-old infants were statistically lower than those of 9- or 12-mo-old infants. There was no statistical difference in the humoral immune responses between 9- and 12-mo-old infants who lacked detectable passive Abs (data not shown).


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The morbidity and mortality rates caused by infectious diseases, including measles, are highest among infants and young children, suggesting that a maturation of immune responses occurs during this developmental phase (1, 51, 52, 53). Although cell-mediated immunity is critical in controlling viral infections, information about the capacity of infants to respond to specific viruses or viral vaccines is limited. Deficiencies in Ag-induced T cell proliferation and cytokine production, particularly IFN-{gamma}, have been documented in infants with herpes simplex infections during the first few weeks of life (52, 54). Descriptions of the age-dependent immunogenicity of certain vaccines suggests that the limited immune responses seen in neonates may extend beyond the first year, but when immune maturation takes place is not known and is likely to vary depending on the antigenic stimulus (33, 55, 56). Animal experiments indicate that newborn responses to Ags are associated with diminished levels of TNF-{alpha} and IFN-{gamma} production and are shifted toward a Th2-type cytokine pattern (34, 35). Since measles infection and measles vaccine have been associated with spontaneous IL-4 release by circulating PBMC and other Th2-like responses, immunization of young infants could enhance their predominance relative to the induction of antiviral Th1-like responses (6, 9, 10, 12). This issue is of practical importance because protection of younger infants against serious or life-threatening measles would be beneficial in geographic areas where measles remains endemic (1, 2). Our experiments addressed these questions with a comparative analysis of cellular immunity elicited by measles immunization of infants at 6, 9, and 12 mo of age. We found that T cell recognition of measles Ag was elicited in 71, 69, and 62%, respectively, and no age-related decreases in IL-12 or IFN-{gamma} production among younger infants were detected. However, measles-specific T cell proliferation and IL-12 responses of infants were significantly lower than those of adults with vaccine-induced immunity to measles.

IL-12 is critical for the induction of IFN-{gamma}, a major Th1 T cell cytokine which is involved in the clonal expansion of Ag-specific T cells (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 57, 58). Earlier studies have shown that measles-specific IFN-{gamma} release and T cell-proliferative responses are lower after measles infection or immunization than those induced by other viruses (6, 59, 60). Diminished IL-12 production, associated with the direct binding of measles to its monocyte receptor, may account for these differences (24). Our hypothesis was that infants may be particularly susceptible to the effects of low IL-12 production to measles Ag because their T cells may be inherently less efficient at IFN-{gamma} gene transcription (34, 54, 55, 56, 61). First, we confirmed the block of IL-12 production by monocytes exposed to high concentrations of measles. Second, we demonstrated that the addition of rhIL-12 to PBMC cultures along with measles Ag was associated with a dramatic increase in IFN-{gamma} release by T cells from adults with vaccine-induced measles immunity. Finally, we showed that whereas IL-12 also enhanced IFN-{gamma} production by infant T cells stimulated with measles Ag, the IFN-{gamma} concentrations were significantly lower than those produced by T cells from immune adults under these conditions. Taken together, these observations suggest that despite some measles-specific induction of IL-12 release, the quantities of IL-12 made may not be sufficient to induce concentrations of IFN-{gamma} high enough to promote the maximal expansion of infant T cells that recognize measles Ags. The increased susceptibility of infants to severe measles is likely to be multifactorial and may be mediated in part by lower IL-12 responses than with adults, associated with a more limited capacity to produce IFN-{gamma}.

An increased susceptibility to secondary infections is an important reason for the high rates of infant morbidity and mortality associated with measles (2, 3). These complications are attributed to generalized immunosuppression caused by measles infection (6). Immunization with live attenuated measles vaccine has been followed by a transient decrease in mitogen-induced T cell proliferation for a few weeks after vaccination (16, 17). We found no suppression of proliferation to PHA when the responses of infants tested just before immunization were compared with those measured 3 mo later. There was no evidence that generalized immunosuppression persisted for this time interval regardless of the age at measles immunization; PHA responses of 6-mo-old infants were equivalent to those of infants who were 9 and 12 mo old.

Interference by passively acquired measles Abs with the immunogenicity of measles vaccine has been a deterrent to immunization of infants younger than 12 mo (4, 37, 42, 43, 62, 63, 64). In addition to documenting the effects of passive Abs on active induction of neutralizing Abs in infants immunized at 6 and 9 mo, we found impaired humoral immunity among infants who had no detectable neutralizing Abs when immunized at 6 mo of age (41). Impaired humoral immune responses reflect inherent deficiencies in the host response as well as neutralization of vaccine virus by passively acquired Abs, but T cell responses appear to be intact even in younger infants. As has been reported for DNA vaccination (32), passive Abs did not influence whether measles-specific T cell proliferation or IFN-{gamma} was induced by immunization of infants with live attenuated measles vaccine. Whether these virus-specific T cell responses result in protection is not known, but successful immunization of infants as young as 3 mo has been described during measles outbreaks or in endemic areas (65). Priming of helper T cells could support the more rapid expansion of adaptive immune responses when the measles Ags are encountered again. How B cells and T cells interact to create protective immunity against measles has not been determined but the clinical experience points to an essential contribution of cell-mediated immunity (66, 67). The deficiency in neutralizing Ab production in infants immunized at 6 mo who had no interference attributable to passive Abs may represent an age-related impairment in a T cell-independent B cell sensitization pathway, or a deficiency in the communication between immature T cells and B cells. Determining what these mechanisms are and how to reverse them in vivo, as we were able to enhance IFN-{gamma} release by IL-12 in vitro, may allow an approach to measles immunization that is more appropriate for the immune system of young infants.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank the families, pediatricians, nursing staff, and laboratory staff of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for their assistance with this study and the Stanford University students for their laboratory assistance.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by Grant AI37127 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Back

2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Hayley Gans, Stanford University Medical Center 300 Pasteur Drive G312, Stanford, CA 94305-5208. E-mail address: Back

3 Abbreviations used in this paper: SI, stimulation index; rhIL-12, recombinant human IL-12; PRN, plaque reduction neutralization. Back

Received for publication October 16, 1998. Accepted for publication February 9, 1999.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Aaby, P., J. Bukh, D. Kronborg, I. M. Lisse, M. C. da Silva. 1990. Delayed excess mortality after exposure to measles during the first six mos of life. Am. J. Epidemiol. 132:211.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Aaby, P., J. Clements, and V. Orinda. 1991. Mortality from measles: measuring the impact. In Expanded Programme on Immunization. World Health Organization, ed. World Health Organization, Geneva.
  3. Clements, C. J., F. T. Cutts. 1995. The epidemiology of measles: thirty years of vaccination. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 191:13.[Medline]
  4. Gindler, J. S., W. L. Atkinson, L. E. Markowitz, S. S. Hutchins. 1992. Epidemiology of measles in the United States in 1989 and 1990. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 11:841.[Medline]
  5. Griffin, D. E.. 1995. Immune responses during measles virus infection. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 191:117.[Medline]
  6. Griffin, D. E., B. J. Ward, L. M. Esolen. 1994. Pathogenesis of measles virus infection: an hypothesis for altered immune responses. J. Infect. Dis. 170:(Suppl. 1):S24.
  7. Wakeham, P. F.. 1978. Severe measles in Afghanistan. J. Trop. Pediatr. Environ. Child Health 24:87.[Medline]
  8. Griffin, D.. 1991. Immunologic abnormalities accompanying acute and chronic viral infections. Rev. Infect. Dis. 13:(Suppl. 1):S129.
  9. Griffin, D. E., B. J. Ward. 1993. Differential CD4 T cell activation in measles. J. Infect. Dis. 168:275.[Medline]
  10. Ward, B. J., R. T. Johnson, A. Vaisberg, E. Jauregui, D. E. Griffin. 1991. Cytokine production in vitro and the lymphoproliferative defect of natural measles virus infection. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 61:236.[Medline]
  11. Ward, B. J., D. E. Griffin. 1993. Changes in cytokine production after measles virus vaccination: predominant production of IL-4 suggests induction of a Th2 response. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 67:171.[Medline]
  12. Smedman, L., A. Joki, A. Jose da Silva, M. Troye-Blomberg, B. Aronsson, P. Perlmann. 1994. Immunosuppression after measles vaccination. Acta Paediatr. 83:164.[Medline]
  13. Zweiman, B., D. Pappagianis, H. Maibach, E. A. Hildreth. 1971. Effect of measles immunization on tuberculin hypersensitivity and in vitro lymphocyte reactivity. Int. Arch. Allergy 40:834.
  14. Tamashiro, V. G., H. H. Perez, D. E. Griffin. 1987. Prospective study of the magnitude and duration of changes in tuberculin reactivity during uncomplicated and complicated measles. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 6:451.[Medline]
  15. Starr, H., S. Berkovich. 1964. Effects of measles, {gamma}-globulin-modified measles and vaccine measles on the tuberculin test. N. Engl. J. Med. 270:386.
  16. Hirsch, R. L., D. E. Griffin, R. T. Johnson, S. J. Cooper, I. Lindo de Soriano, S. Roedenbeck, A. Vaisberg. 1984. Cellular immune responses during complicated and uncomplicated measles virus infections of man. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 31:1.[Medline]
  17. Finkel, A., P. B. Dent. 1973. Abnormalities in lymphocyte proliferation in classical and atypical measles infection. Cell. Immunol. 6:41.[Medline]
  18. Griffin, D. E., B. J. Ward, E. Jauregui, R. T. Johnson, A. Vaisberg. 1989. Immune activation in measles. N. Engl. J. Med. 320:1667.[Abstract]
  19. Griffin, D. E., B. J. Ward, E. Jauregui, R. T. Johnson, A. Vaisberg. 1990. Natural killer cell activity during measles. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 81:218.[Medline]
  20. Griffin, D. E., S. J. Cooper, R. L. Hirsch, R. T. Johnson, I. Lindo de Soriano, S. Roedenbeck, A. Vaisberg. 1985. Changes in plasma IgE levels during complicated and uncomplicated measles virus infections. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 76:206.[Medline]
  21. Dorig, R. E., A. Marcil, C. D. Richardson. 1994. CD46, a primate-specific receptor for measles virus. Trends Microbiol. 2:312.[Medline]
  22. Dunster, L. M., J. Schneider-Schaulies, M. H. Dehoff, V. M. Holers, R. Schwartz-Albiez, V. ter Meulen. 1995. Moesin, and not the murine functional homologue (Crry/p65) of human membrane cofactor protein (CD46), is involved in the entry of measles virus (strain Edmonston) into susceptible murine cell lines. J. Gen. Virol. 76:2085.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. Schneider-Schaulies, J., L. M. Dunster, F. Kobune, B. Rima, V. ter Meulen. 1995. Differential downregulation of CD46 by measles virus strains. J. Virol. 69:7257.[Abstract]
  24. Karp, C. L., M. Wysocka, L. M. Wahl, J. M. Ahearn, P. J. Cuomo, B. Sherry, G. Trinchieri, D. E. Griffin. 1996. Mechanism of suppression of cell-mediated immunity by measles virus. Science 273:228.[Abstract]
  25. Marshall, J. D., H. Secrist, R. H. DeKruyff, S. F. Wolf, D. T. Umetsu. 1995. IL-12 inhibits the production of IL-4 and IL-10 in allergen-specific human CD4+ T lymphocytes. J. Immunol. 155:111.[Abstract]
  26. Hendrzak, J. A., M. J. Brunda. 1995. Interleukin-12: biologic activity, therapeutic utility, and role in disease. Lab. Invest. 72:619.[Medline]
  27. Schmitt, E., P. Hoehn, C. Huels, S. Goedert, N. Palm, E. Rude, T. Germann. 1994. T helper type 1 development of naive CD4+ T cells requires the coordinate action of interleukin-12 and interferon-{gamma} and is inhibited by transforming growth factor-ß. Eur. J. Immunol. 24:793.[Medline]
  28. Trinchieri, G.. 1997. Cytokines acting on or secreted by macrophages during intracellular infection (IL-10, IL-12, IFN-{gamma}). Curr. Opin. Immunol. 9:17.[Medline]
  29. Scharton-Kersten, T., L. C. Afonso, M. Wysocka, G. Trinchieri, P. Scott. 1995. IL-12 is required for natural killer cell activation and subsequent T helper 1 cell development in experimental leishmaniasis. J. Immunol. 154:5320.[Abstract]
  30. Heufler, C., F. Koch, U. Stanzl, G. Topar, M. Wysocka, G. Trinchieri, A. Enk, R. M. Steinman, N. Romani, G. Schuler. 1996. Interleukin-12 is produced by dendritic cells and mediates T helper 1 development as well as interferon-{gamma} production by T helper 1 cells. Eur. J. Immunol. 26:659.[Medline]
  31. Chehimi, J., G. Trinchieri. 1994. Interleukin-12: a bridge between innate resistance and adaptive immunity with a role in infection and acquired immunodeficiency. J. Clin. Immunol. 14:149.[Medline]
  32. Siegrist, C.-A., C. Barrios, X. Martinez, C. Brandt, M. Berney, M. Cordova, J. Kovarik, P.-H. Lambert. 1998. Influence of maternal antibodies on vaccine responses:inhibition of antibody but not T cell responses allows successful early prime-boost strategies in mice. Eur. J. Immunol. 28:4138.[Medline]
  33. Siegrist, C. A.. 1997. Potential advantages and risks of nucleic acid vaccines for infant immunization. Vaccine 15:798.[Medline]
  34. Martinez, X., C. Brandt, F. Saddallah, C. Tougne, C. Barrios, F. Wild, G. Dougan, P. H. Lambert, C. A. Siegrist. 1997. DNA immunization circumvents deficient induction of T helper type 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in neonates and during early life. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:8726.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  35. Barrios, C., C. Brandt, M. Berney, P. H. Lambert, C. A. Siegrist. 1996. Partial correction of the TH2/TH1 imbalance in neonatal murine responses to vaccine antigens through selective adjuvant effects. Eur. J. Immunol. 26:2666.[Medline]
  36. Barrios, C., P. Brawand, M. Berney, C. Brandt, P. H. Lambert, C. A. Siegrist. 1996. Neonatal and early life immune responses to various forms of vaccine antigens qualitatively differ from adult responses: predominance of a Th2-biased pattern which persists after adult boosting. Eur. J. Immunol. 26:1489.[Medline]
  37. Wilkins, J., P. F. Wehrle. 1979. Additional evidence against measles vaccine administration to infants less than 12 months of age: altered immune response following active/passive immunization. J. Pediatr. 94:865.[Medline]
  38. Siegrist, C. A., P. H. Lambert. 1997. Immunization with DNA vaccines in early life: advantages and limitations as compared to conventional vaccines. Springer Semin. Immunopathol. 19:233.[Medline]
  39. Albrecht, P., F. A. Ennis, E. J. Saltzman, S. Krugman. 1977. Persistence of maternal antibody in infants beyond 12 months: mechanism of measles vaccine failure. J. Pediatr. 91:715.[Medline]
  40. Cutts, F. T., L. E. Markowitz. 1994. Successes and failures in measles control. J. Infect. Dis. 170:(Suppl. 1):S32.
  41. Gans, H., A. Arvin, J. Galinus, L. Logan, R. DeHovitz, Y. Maldonado. 1998. Deficiency of the humoral immune response to measles vaccine in infants immunized at age 6 months. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 280:527.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  42. Krugman, R. D., R. Rosenberg, K. McIntosh, K. Herrmann, J. J. Witte, F. A. Ennis, B. C. Meyer. 1977. Further attenuated live measles vaccines: the need for revised recommendations. J. Pediatr. 91:766.[Medline]
  43. Yeager, A. S., J. H. Davis, L. A. Ross, B. Harvey. 1977. Measles immunization: successes and failures. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 237:347.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Maldonado, Y. A., E. C. Lawrence, R. DeHovitz, H. Hartzell, P. Albrecht. 1995. Early loss of passive measles antibody in infants of mothers with vaccine-induced immunity. Pediatrics 96:447.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  45. Markowitz, L. E., P. Albrecht, P. Rhodes, R. Demonteverde, E. Swint, E. F. Maes, C. Powell, P. A. Patriarca. 1996. Changing levels of measles antibody titers in women and children in the United States: impact on response to vaccination: Kaiser Permanente Measles Vaccine Trial Team. Pediatrics 97:53.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  46. Johnson, C. E., D. R. Nalin, L. W. Chui, J. Whitwell, R. G. Marusyk, M. L. Kumar. 1994. Measles vaccine immunogenicity in 6- versus 15-month-old infants born to mothers in the measles vaccine era. Pediatrics 93:939.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  47. Albrecht, P., K. Herrmann, G. R. Burns. 1981. Role of virus strain in conventional and enhanced measles plaque neutralization test. J. Virol. Methods 3:251.[Medline]
  48. Ratnam, S., V. Gadag, R. West, J. Burris, E. Oates, F. Stead, N. Bouilianne. 1995. Comparison of commercial enzyme immunoassay kits with plaque reduction neutralization test for detection of measles virus antibody. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:811.[Abstract]
  49. Whittle, H., M. Rowland, G. Mann, W. Lamb, R. Lewis. 1984. Immunization of 4–6 month old Gambian infants with Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine. Lancet 2:834.[Medline]
  50. Sabin, A. B., P. Albrecht, A. K. Takeda, E. M. Ribeiro, R. Veronesi. 1985. High effectiveness of aerosolized chick embryo fibroblast measles vaccine in seven-month-old and older infants. J. Infect. Dis. 152:1231.[Medline]
  51. Lewis, D., C. Wilson. 1995. Developmental Immunology and Role of the Host Defenses in Neonatal Susceptibility to Infection W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
  52. Burchett, S. K., L. Corey, K. M. Mohan, J. Westall, R. Ashley, C. B. Wilson. 1992. Diminished interferon-{gamma} and lymphocyte proliferation in neonatal and postpartum primary herpes simplex virus infection. J. Infect. Dis. 165:813.[Medline]
  53. Wilson, C. 1986. Immunologic basis of increased susceptibility of the neonate to infection. J. Pediatr. 108.
  54. Sullender, W. M., J. L. Miller, L. L. Yasukawa, J. S. Bradley, S. B. Black, A. S. Yeager, A. M. Arvin. 1987. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity in neonates with herpes simplex virus infection. [Published erratum appears in J. Infect. Dis. 1987 Apr;155:838.]. J. Infect. Dis. 155:28.[Medline]
  55. Siegrist, C. A.. 1997. Vaccination strategies for children with specific medical conditions: a paediatrician’s viewpoint. Eur. J. Pediatr. 156:899.[Medline]
  56. Siegrist, C. A., P. H. Lambert. 1996. DNA vaccines: what can we expect?. Infect. Agents Dis. 5:55.[Medline]
  57. Schmitt, E., P. Hoehn, T. Germann, E. Rude. 1994. Differential effects of interleukin-12 on the development of naive mouse CD4+ T cells. Eur. J. Immunol. 24:343.[Medline]
  58. Kennedy, M. K., K. S. Picha, W. C. Fanslow, K. H. Grabstein, M. R. Alderson, K. N. Clifford, W. A. Chin, K. M. Mohler. 1996. CD40/CD40 ligand interactions are required for T cell-dependent production of interleukin-12 by mouse macrophages. Eur. J. Immunol. 26:370.[Medline]
  59. Markowitz, L., S. Katz. 1994. Measles Vaccine W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
  60. Ward, B. J., N. Boulianne, S. Ratnam, M. C. Guiot, M. Couillard, G. De Serres. 1995. Cellular immunity in measles vaccine failure: demonstration of measles antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses despite limited serum antibody production after revaccination. J. Infect. Dis. 172:1591.[Medline]
  61. Pass, R. F., M. E. Dworsky, R. J. Whitley, A. M. August, S. Stagno, Jr C. A. Alford. 1981. Specific lymphocyte blastogenic responses in children with cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus infections acquired early in infancy. Infect. Immun. 34:166.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  62. Shelton, J. D., J. E. Jacobson, W. A. Orenstein, K. F. Schulz, Jr H. D. Donnell. 1978. Measles vaccine efficacy: influence of age at vaccination vs. duration of time since vaccination. Pediatrics 62:961.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  63. Shasby, D. M., T. C. Shope, H. Downs, K. L. Herrmann, J. Polkowski. 1977. Epidemic measles in a highly vaccinated population. N. Engl. J. Med. 296:585.[Abstract]
  64. Schluederberg, A., S. H. Lamm, P. J. Landrigan, F. L. Black. 1973. Measles immunity in children vaccinated before one year of age. Am. J. Epidemiol. 97:402.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  65. Cutts, F. T., B. Nyandu, L. E. Markowitz, T. Forsey, E. R. Zell, O. Othepa, K. Wilkins. 1994. Immunogenicity of high-titre AIK-C or Edmonston-Zagreb vaccines in 3.5-month-old infants, and of medium- or high-titre Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine in 6-month-old infants, in Kinshasa, Zaire. Vaccine 12:1311.[Medline]
  66. Good, R., S. Zak. 1956. Disturbances in {gamma} globulin synthesis as "experiments of nature". Pediatrics 18:109.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  67. Ruckdeschel, J. C., K. D. Graziano, Jr M. R. Mardiney. 1975. Additional evidence that the cell-associated immune system is the primary host defense against measles (rubeola). Cell. Immunol. 17:11.[Medline]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
M. Carsillo, K. Klapproth, and S. Niewiesk
Cytokine Imbalance after Measles Virus Infection Has No Correlation with Immune Suppression
J. Virol., July 15, 2009; 83(14): 7244 - 7251.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
X.-l. Yu, Y.-m. Cheng, B.-s. Shi, F.-x. Qian, F.-b. Wang, X.-n. Liu, H.-y. Yang, Q.-n. Xu, T.-k. Qi, L.-j. Zha, et al.
Measles Virus Infection in Adults Induces Production of IL-10 and Is Associated with Increased CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells
J. Immunol., November 15, 2008; 181(10): 7356 - 7366.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CVIHome page
C.-H. Pan, N. Nair, R. J. Adams, M. C. Zink, E.-Y. Lee, F. P. Polack, M. Singh, D. T. O'Hagan, and D. E. Griffin
Dose-Dependent Protection against or Exacerbation of Disease by a Polylactide Glycolide Microparticle-Adsorbed, Alphavirus-Based Measles Virus DNA Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques
Clin. Vaccine Immunol., April 1, 2008; 15(4): 697 - 706.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
J Bonhoeffer, C-A Siegrist, and P T Heath
Immunisation of premature infants
Arch. Dis. Child., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 929 - 935.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Gen. Virol.Home page
I. M. Klagge, M. Abt, B. Fries, and S. Schneider-Schaulies
Impact of measles virus dendritic-cell infection on Th-cell polarization in vitro
J. Gen. Virol., November 1, 2004; 85(11): 3239 - 3247.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Infect. Immun.Home page
A. V. E. Capozzo, L. Cuberos, M. M. Levine, and M. F. Pasetti
Mucosally Delivered Salmonella Live Vector Vaccines Elicit Potent Immune Responses against a Foreign Antigen in Neonatal Mice Born to Naive and Immune Mothers
Infect. Immun., August 1, 2004; 72(8): 4637 - 4646.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CVIHome page
I. G. Ovsyannikova, N. Dhiman, R. M. Jacobson, R. A. Vierkant, and G. A. Poland
Frequency of Measles Virus-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in Subjects Seronegative or Highly Seropositive for Measles Vaccine
Clin. Vaccine Immunol., May 1, 2003; 10(3): 411 - 416.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
F. Mascart, V. Verscheure, A. Malfroot, M. Hainaut, D. Pierard, S. Temerman, A. Peltier, A.-S. Debrie, J. Levy, G. Del Giudice, et al.
Bordetella pertussis Infection in 2-Month-Old Infants Promotes Type 1 T Cell Responses
J. Immunol., February 1, 2003; 170(3): 1504 - 1509.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
M. C. Jaimes, O. L. Rojas, A. M. Gonzalez, I. Cajiao, A. Charpilienne, P. Pothier, E. Kohli, H. B. Greenberg, M. A. Franco, and J. Angel
Frequencies of Virus-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes Secreting Gamma Interferon after Acute Natural Rotavirus Infection in Children and Adults
J. Virol., April 16, 2002; 76(10): 4741 - 4749.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
C. E. Patterson, D. M. P. Lawrence, L. A. Echols, and G. F. Rall
Immune-Mediated Protection from Measles Virus-Induced Central Nervous System Disease Is Noncytolytic and Gamma Interferon Dependent
J. Virol., March 27, 2002; 76(9): 4497 - 4506.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
M. Rayevskaya, N. Kushnir, and F. R. Frankel
Safety and Immunogenicity in Neonatal Mice of a Hyperattenuated Listeria Vaccine Directed against Human Immunodeficiency Virus
J. Virol., January 15, 2002; 76(2): 918 - 922.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Gen. Virol.Home page
B. T. Lund, A. Tiwari, S. Galbraith, M. D. Baron, W. I. Morrison, and T. Barrett
Vaccination of cattle with attenuated rinderpest virus stimulates CD4+ T cell responses with broad viral antigen specificity
J. Gen. Virol., September 1, 2000; 81(9): 2137 - 2146.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
K. Luzuriaga, M. McManus, M. Catalina, S. Mayack, M. Sharkey, and M. Stevenson
Early Therapy of Vertical Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection: Control of Viral Replication and Absence of Persistent HIV-1-Specific Immune Responses
J. Virol., August 1, 2000; 74(15): 6984 - 6991.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gans, H. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arvin, A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gans, H. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arvin, A. M.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS