Maternal Antibodies: Clinical Significance, Mechanism of Interference with Immune Responses, and Possible Vaccination Strategies

Abstract

Neonates have an immature immune system, which cannot adequately protect against infectious diseases. Early in life, immune protection is accomplished by maternal antibodies transferred from mother to offspring. However, decaying maternal antibodies inhibit vaccination as is exemplified by the inhibition of seroconversion after measles vaccination. This phenomenon has been described in both human and veterinary medicine and is independent of the type of vaccine being used. This review will discuss the use of animal models for vaccine research. I will review clinical solutions for inhibition of vaccination by maternal antibodies, and the testing and development of potentially effective vaccines. These are based on new mechanistic insight about the inhibitory mechanism of maternal antibodies. Maternal antibodies inhibit the generation of antibodies whereas the T cell response is usually unaffected. B cell inhibition is mediated through a cross-link between B cell receptor (BCR) with the Fcγ-receptor IIB by a vaccine–antibody complex. In animal experiments, this inhibition can be partially overcome by injection of a vaccine-specific monoclonal IgM antibody. IgM stimulates the B cell directly through cross-linking the BCR via complement protein C3d and antigen to the complement receptor 2 (CR2) signaling complex. In addition, it was shown that interferon alpha binds to the CD21 chain of CR2 as well as the interferon receptor and that this dual receptor usage drives B cell responses in the presence of maternal antibodies. In lieu of immunizing the infant, the concept of maternal immunization as a strategy to protect neonates has been proposed. This approach would still not solve the question of how to immunize in the presence of maternal antibodies but would defer the time of infection to an age where infection might not have such a detrimental outcome as in neonates. I will review successful examples and potential challenges of implementing this concept.

Comparative Evaluation of the Protective Efficacy of Different Vaccination Programs Against a Virulent Field Strain of the Newcastle Disease Virus in Broilers

“…Partial protection against the disease in these groups may be explained by the inhibitory effect of high maternal antibody titers on live vaccine at day old. Maternal antibodies suppress vaccine-induced immune responses (Niewiesk, 2014).…”

Inmunizacion activa anti-GnRH en ovino (Ovis aries): morfometría testicular, histopatología y respuesta endocrina en corderos prepúberes

“…Otro factor que puede influir en los resultados está relacionado con la variación inter-individual de la respuesta inmunológica, que a su vez puede estar influenciada por el genotipo de cada individuo e incluso por interferencias con los anticuerpos de origen materno (Niewiesk, 2014). También se han descrito interacciones hormonales tales como el efecto de feed-back negativo ejercido por otras hormonas tales como la testosterona o la inhibina sobre la liberación de FSH, sin embargo en el presente estudio esta situación es poco probable debido a que este hecho suele suceder en animales sexualmente maduros (Simoni et al, 1999).…”

Maternal immunization: where are we now and how to move forward?

“…Although much evidence has highlighted the benefits of maternal immunization, some studies have also shown a potential interference between maternally derived IgG antibodies and infant antibody responses [23]. Specifically, maternally derived IgG antibodies can inhibit immune responses against the same or related antigens after primary vaccination series in early infancy, a phenomenon termed "immunological blunting".…”