The induction of CD80 and apoptosis on B cells and CD40L in CD4+ T cells in response to seasonal influenza vaccination distinguishes responders versus non-responders in healthy controls and aviremic ART-treated HIV-infected individuals
Authors: Xiaochun Li
Lei Huang
Zhenwu Luo
J Michael Kilby
Guoyang Liao
Yuxia Song
Zhuang Wan
Wei Jiang
Anna M Powell
Lisa Martin
Lei Ma
Journal: Vaccine (2017)
Discipline: IMMUNOLOGY
Keywords: B cells; HIV disease; Immunologic responders and non-responders; Influenza vaccine.
Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, 29425, USA., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA., Divison of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA., Chief of No. 5 Biologicals Department, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kuming 650118, China., The Sixth People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kashi East Road 100 North Lane Of Xinshi District, Xinjiang, Urumqi 830013, China., The 302 Hospital of PLA, Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: ., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA; Divison of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Background: Studies have shown that HIV infection is associated with an impaired influenza vaccine response. We examined the role of cellular phenotypes and function in influenza vaccine responsiveness in healthy controls and aviremic HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral treatment (ART). Methods: 16 healthy controls and 26 ART+ aviremic HIV+ subjects were enrolled in the current study. Blood was collected at pre-vaccination (D0), and on days 7-10 (D7) and 14-21 (D14) following the 2013-2014 seasonal influenza vaccine administrations. Subjects were classified as responders if neutralizing titers against H1N1 virus increased ⩾4-fold at D14 compared to D0. A serial analysis of B and CD4+ T cell frequencies and activation was performed on D0 and D7 by flow cytometry. Results: 9 of 26 (34.6%) HIV-infected individuals and 7 of 16 (43.8%) healthy controls were classified as responders to influenza vaccines. Total B cell apoptosis (annexin V) was increased on D7 post-vaccination in non-responders but not in responders among both controls and HIV+ subjects. Surface CD80 expression on memory B cells and intracellular CD40L expression on memory CD4+ T cells were induced on D7 in responders of controls but not in non-responders. The CD80 and CD40L induction was not demonstrable in HIV-infected subjects regardless of responders and non-responders. Memory CD4+ T cell cycling tended to increase on D7 in the four study groups but did not achieve significance. All the other parameters were indistinguishable between responders and non-responders, regardless of HIV-infection status. Conclusion: The perturbation of activation and apoptotic induction on B cells or CD4+ T cells after seasonal influenza vaccination in non-responders and HIV-infected subjects may help understand the mechanism of impaired vaccine responsiveness. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
null, 
null, 
null, 
null, 
null, 
null, 
 #1 The figures were used for gating strategies. , 
null, 
null, 
 We appreciate these comments on our work. We have reused some dot plot figures only for gating strategies. The summarized figures showed each value of individual donors. , 
 #9 Thank you! Exactly. , 
 #11 The surface marker and intracellular marker can be stained in the same sample, the surface at first, then intracellular. ,