Clinical MedicineIn-Press PreviewImmunologyInfectious disease Free access | 10.1172/jci.insight.130540
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First published November 19, 2019 - More info
Background: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is protective in children but its efficacy wanes with age. Consequently, determining if BCG revaccination augments anti-TB immunity in young adults in TB endemic regions is vital.
Methods: 200 healthy adults, BCG vaccinated at birth were tested for their IGRA status. Of these, 28 IGRA+ and 30 IGRA- were BCG revaccinated and 24 IGRA+ and 23 IGRA- subjects served as unvaccinated controls. T and innate cell responses to mycobacterial antigens were analyzed by 14-colour flow cytometry over 34 weeks.
Results: IFN-γ and/or IL-2 Ag85A and BCG-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were boosted by revacciantion at 4 and 34 weeks respectively and were >2-fold higher in IGRA+ compared to IGRA- vaccinees. Polyfunctional Ag85A, BCG and Mtb latency Ag (LTAg)-specific CD4+ T-cells expressing up to 8 cytokines were also significantly enhanced in both IGRA+ and IGRA- vaccinees relative to unvaccinated controls, most markedly in IGRA+ vaccinees. A focussed analysis of Th17 responses revealed expansion of Ag85A, BCG and LTAg-specific total IL-17A+IL-17F+IL-22+ and IL-10+ CD4+ T-cell effectors in both IGRA+ and IGRA- subjects. Also, innate IFN-γ+ NK/γδ/NKT responses were higher in both IGRA+ and IGRA- vaccinees compared to controls. This is the first evidence that BCG revaccination significantly boosts anti-mycobacterial Th1/Th17 responses in IGRA+ and IGRA- subjects.
Summary: These data show that BCG revaccination is immunogenic in IGRA- and IGRA+ subjects implying that Mtb pre-infection in IGRA+ subjects does not impact immunogenicity. This has implications for public health and vaccine development strategies.
Funding: This work was funded principally by DBT-NIH (BT/MB/Indo-US/HIPC/2013).