Using the influenza vaccine as a mild, exogenous inflammatory challenge: When does inflammation peak?

Abstract

Background The influenza vaccine has shown promise as a mild, exogenous inflammatory challenge, but use of this model is limited by lack of knowledge about the timing of the inflammatory response. This study was designed to characterize the time-course of the acute inflammatory response and explore psychological and behavioral predictors of that response. Methods Twenty-one young, healthy individuals were recruited to receive the annual influenza vaccine. Serial blood samples were collected immediately before, and 24, 48, and 72 ​h following influenza vaccination. Interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were assayed at each time-point and psychological and behavioral factors (anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, and childhood adversity) were assessed at baseline. Results Significant elevations in IL-6 were observed at 24 ​h post-vaccination (mean increase ​= ​0.70 ​pg/mL, Cohen’s d ​= ​0.54, p ​= ​.018)), with 61.9% of participants exhibiting peak concentrations at that time point, χ 2 ​= ​22.54, p ​< ​.001, η ​= ​0.52. In exploratory analyses, sleep disturbance was associated with greater increases in IL-6 at 24 ​h. Conclusions By identifying the peak IL-6 response to influenza vaccination among a sample of young, healthy individuals, these findings support the use of the influenza vaccine in future PNI research. This vaccine model can be used to examine the impact of mild inflammatory challenges on the brain and behavior, and to identify psychological and behavioral factors (e.g., anxiety, sleep) that modulate inflammatory reactivity.

Acute inflammation elicits decreased blood pressure but similar arterial stiffness in young African American adults

“…The 24H and 48H visits occurred 24 h and 48 h following the BL visit, respectively. The 24H and 48H time points were chosen to study the response of the influenza vaccine based on previous studies which have quantified the inflammatory peak (as assessed via circulating IL‐6 concentration) as occurring between 1 and 3 days post‐vaccine administration (Kuhlman et al., 2018 ; Radin et al., 2021 ; Tsai et al., 2005 ). The procedures in the 24H and 48H visits were identical to those of the BL visit, except for the influenza vaccine administration.…”

“…In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate measures of central and peripheral blood pressure, central and local arterial stiffness, and indices of pulse wave morphology in young healthy AA and W individuals in response to an acute inflammatory stimulus (influenza vaccine). The influenza vaccine was chosen as the stimulus for acute inflammation for its feasibility of administration in a young adult population, and known contribution as a mild, exogenous, inflammatory stimulus, with increases in circulating cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) activity at or around 24 h post‐vaccine administration (Kuhlman et al., 2018 ; Radin et al., 2021 ; Tsai et al., 2005 ).…”

Psychoneuroimmunology: An Introduction to Immune-to-Brain Communication and Its Implications for Clinical Psychology

“…The annual influenza vaccine is more widely used and has emerged as a promising new model for probing inflammatory effects on psychological processes. The inflammatory response to influenza vaccine is small, peaks approximately 24 h after vaccine administration, and resolves within 3 days (Radin et al 2021).…”

Immune System and Intergroup Bias: Vaccine-Induced Increases in Cytokine Activity Are Associated with Worse Evaluations of Resume for Latina Job Applicant

“…Because we are focused on psychoneuroimmunology and immune system activity, we opted not to use that term to increase clarity and to avoid creating a false dichotomy between the two systems (i.e., increases in cytokines also prompt behavioral changes). peak increase in cytokines was expected to occur (Radin et al, 2021), participants completed measures of intergroup bias with instructions provided over Zoom. We assayed saliva samples participants provided before the clinic appointment and before the Zoom meeting for three proinflammatory cytokines associated with the threat general immune response: interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).…”

“…Participants in this subsample provided their baseline saliva sample before getting the vaccine or placebo injection and their second saliva sample within the 2 hours before the start of the Zoom session during which they completed the dependent measures. On average, there was a 24-hour difference between samples (M = 24.56, SD = 3.58, range: 17.24-33.83), which corresponds to the peak in cytokine responses anticipated following the influenza vaccine (Radin et al, 2021). Samples were assayed for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).…”