A longitudinal study of BCG vaccination in early childhood: the development of innate and adaptive immune responses

PLoS One. 2010 Nov 19;5(11):e14066. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014066.

Abstract

BCG vaccine drives a strong T helper 1 cellular immunity which is essential for the protection against mycobacteria, however recent studies suggest that BCG vaccination can have non-specific beneficial effects unrelated to tuberculosis. In the present cohort study the development of cytokine profiles following BCG vaccination was investigated. Immune responses to PPD were assessed before vaccination and at ages of 5 months, 1 year, and 2 years, followed by BCG scar measurement at 4 years of age. BCG was shown to induce both Th1 and Th2 type responses against PPD at about 5 months of age after vaccination, and while Th1 response was sustained, Th2 responses declined over time. However, BCG scar size was strongly correlated with Th2 responses to PPD at 5 months of age. Importantly, we observed no clear effects of BCG vaccination on innate immune responses in terms of early IL-10 or TNF-α production whereas some alterations in general adaptive immune responses to PHA were observed.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology*
  • Adult
  • BCG Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Indonesia
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculin / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vaccination / methods

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Tuberculin
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma