Decreased ratio of influenza-specific IgG versus IgM in response to influenza vaccination in antiretroviral-treated HIV-infected African Americans compared to Caucasians, and its direct correlation with the percentages of peripheral Tfh cells

Vaccine. 2020 Feb 18;38(8):1998-2004. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.002. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Abstract

Background: Racial differences have been observed in the rate of bacterial infection and disease progression in HIV. Here, we evaluate racial differences in seasonal influenza vaccine responses.

Methods: 16 healthy controls (9 Caucasians (CC) and 7 African Americans (AA)) and 26 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated aviremic HIV+ subjects (11 CC and 15 AA) were enrolled in the current study. Blood was collected at pre-vaccination (D0) and day 14 (D14) following seasonal influenza vaccination. Serologic responses were characterized in plasma by ELISA. B and T cells were assessed by flow cytometry ex vivo.

Results: The absolute counts of CD4+ CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells were similar in healthy controls and HIV-infected individuals, and similar in CC and AA in the two study groups. However, the percentage of peripheral T follicular helper (pTfh) cells was decreased in HIV+ AA compared to HIV+ CC. There were no racial differences in IgG antibody responses against vaccination in the two study groups. However, the ratio of anti-influenza-specific IgG versus IgM induction following vaccination was decreased in HIV+ AA compared to HIV+ CC, which was directly correlated with the percentages of pTfh cells. This racial difference and correlation were not demonstrable in healthy controls.

Conclusion: Here we report that HIV + AA has decreased fold induction of IgG versus IgM after influenza vaccination, which may suggest impaired class-switching from IgM to IgG in AA HIV-infected individuals.

Keywords: Antibody responses; B cells; HIV disease; Influenza vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Black or African American
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections* / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human* / ethnology
  • Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T Follicular Helper Cells / cytology*
  • Vaccination
  • White People

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Influenza Vaccines