Zoster Vaccination Increases the Breadth of CD4+ T Cells Responsive to Varicella Zoster Virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The live, attenuated varicella vaccine strain (vOka) is the only licensed therapeutic vaccine. Boost of varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific cellular immunity is a likely mechanism of action. We examined memory CD4(+) T-cell responses to each VZV protein at baseline and after zoster vaccination.

Methods

Serial blood samples were collected from 12 subjects vaccinated with Zostavax and immunogenicity confirmed by ex vivo VZV-specific T-cell and antibody assays. CD4(+) T-cell lines enriched for VZV specificity were generated and probed for proliferative responses to every VZV protein and selected peptide sets.

Results

Zoster vaccination increased the median magnitude (2.3-fold) and breadth (4.2-fold) of VZV-specific CD4(+) T cells one month post-vaccination.

SUBMITTER: Laing KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4559191 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature