Humoral responses to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are impaired in Leigh Syndrome French Canadian patients

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 21;15(10):e0239860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239860. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Leigh Syndrome French Canadian (LSFC) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by severe lactic acidosis crises and early mortality. LSFC patients carry mutations in the Leucine Rich Pentatricopeptide Repeat Containing (LRPPRC) gene, which lead to defects in the respiratory chain complexes and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial respiration modulates cellular metabolic activity, which impacts many cell types including the differentiation and function of immune cells. Hence, we postulated that, in addition to neurological and metabolic disorders, LSFC patients may show impaired immune activity. To gain insight into the quality of the immune response in LSFC patients, we examined the response to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine by measuring antibody titers to MMR in the plasma. In a cohort of eight LSFC patients, the response to the MMR vaccine was variable, with some individuals showing antibodies to all three viruses, while others had antibodies to two or fewer viruses. These results suggest that the mutations in the LRPPRC gene present in LSFC patients may affect the immune response to vaccines. Monitoring vaccine response in this fragile population should be considered to ensure full protection against pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine*
  • Leigh Disease / epidemiology
  • Leigh Disease / genetics
  • Leigh Disease / immunology*
  • Male
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Quebec
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • LRPPRC protein, human
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
  • Neoplasm Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funds from La fondation du grand défi Pierre Lavoie, awarded to SL. https://www.fondationgdpl.com/soumettre-un-projet/ The Canada Research Chair in Environment and Genetic of Respiratory Disorders and Allergy (chairholder : Catherine Laprise) financially support the Leigh Syndrome French Canadian Biobank. https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx SL is a Research Scholars Emeritus awardee from the Fonds de recherche Québec – Santé. http://www.frqs.gouv.qc.ca/en/ AF holds a scholarship from the Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie at the University of Montréal. https://microbiologie.umontreal.ca/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.