Altered antibody response to influenza H1N1 vaccine in healthy elderly people as determined by HI, ELISA, and neutralization assay

Abstract

To determine the influence of ageing per se as well as of priming histories on the antibody response to influenza vaccination, haemagglutination inhibition (HI), ELISA IgG, IgA, IgM and neutralizing antibody titres were studied in 43 healthy young subjects (mean age 23 years) and 55 healthy elderly people (mean age 79 years). The HI and ELISA lgG responses to the A/Guizhou/54/89 strain (H3N2) for which both the young and the elderly had similar priming histories were equal. By contrast, the HI and IgG responses to A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1), where the priming histories were different, were lower in the elderly (P < 0.05). Influenza-specific IgA responses in the elderly tended to be higher for all vaccine strains. Influenza-specific postvaccination IgM titres were similar or tended to be higher in the elderly. A subgroup of elderly subjects (18%) who did not express HI activity to the A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1) vaccine strain, reacted in the HI assay with the closely related A/Singapore/6/86 (H1N1) strain. These elderly people, however, produced lgG antibodies which neutralized A/Taiwan/1/86 virus in vitro. It is concluded that the elderly are capable of mounting antibody responses similar to those observed in the young. Moreover, the observed age-related differences in antibody responses to H1N1 strains are probably not due to ageing of the immune system itself, but are determined by differences in priming histories.

Differences in Antibody Responses of Individuals with Natural Infection and Those Vaccinated against Pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza

“…This is consistent with a seasonal H1N1 vaccine study conducted in which neutralizing, but nonhemagglutinating antibody was more often found in the elderly population (31). Conversely, for patients with natural infection, the GMT of HI was higher than that of CMN in the 16-to 29-year-old age group, but there were no significant differences in the other age groups.…”

Serological response to influenza A H1N1 vaccine (Pandemrix®) and seasonal influenza vaccine 2009/2010 in renal transplant recipients and in hemodialysis patients

“…The negated occurrence of Xulike symptoms post-vaccination might give some (weak) evidence for successful protection. One explanation could be the method itself: Several authors have shown that the hemagglutination inhibition test is less sensitive compared to tests that detect virus-neutralizing antibodies [36,37]. However, Broeders et al [28] have tested post-vaccination sera of renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the pandemic H1N1 strain and found similar to this study that in these patients, the vaccine is of limited eYcacy [28].…”

Immunogenicity, Boostability, and Sustainability of the Immune Response after Vaccination against Influenza A Virus (H1N1) 2009 in a Healthy Population

“…In the literature, conflicting results of the effect of age on the immune response to influenza virus vaccine have been described (3,12,26). In a quantitative review, Goodwin et al described that the antibody response in the elderly (Ͼ65 years) is considerably lower than that in younger adults (12).…”

“…In a quantitative review, Goodwin et al described that the antibody response in the elderly (Ͼ65 years) is considerably lower than that in younger adults (12). In contrast, Remarque et al described that lower HI titers were not caused by age or aging of the immune system but probably by differences in priming histories and concomitant diseases (26).…”