Journal
JCI INSIGHT
Volume 6, Issue 20, Pages -Publisher
AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150888
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- NIH [R01AI123048, AG068110, R24 OD010947]
- University of Miami CFAR laboratory core [P30AI073961]
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID
- Merck, Sharp Dome Corp. [L-000870812]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Natural aging and HIV infection are associated with impaired antibody responses to vaccines like the flu vaccine and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. IL-21 has been shown to enhance flu vaccine-induced antibody responses in aged SIV+ rhesus macaques, acting as an adjuvant modulating LN germinal center activity. Supplementing IL-21 in aging populations could be a valuable strategy for improving vaccine responses in individuals living with HIV.
Natural aging and HIV infection are associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, immune senescence, and impaired antibody responses to vaccines such as the influenza (flu) vaccine. We investigated the role of IL-21, a CD4(+) T follicular helper cell (Tfh) regulator, on flu vaccine antibody response in nonhuman primates (NHPs) in the context of age and controlled SIV mac239 infection. Three doses of the flu vaccine with or without IL-21-IgFc were administered at 3-month intervals in aged SIV+ NHPs following virus suppression with antiretroviral therapy. IL-21-treated animals demonstrated higher day 14-postboost antibody responses, which associated with expanded CD4(+) T central memory cells and peripheral Tfh-expressing (pTfh-expressing) T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), expanded activated memory B cells, and contracted CD11b(+) monocytes. Draining lymph node (LN) tissue from IL-21-treated animals revealed direct association between LN follicle Tfh density and frequency of circulating TIGIT(+) pTfh cells. We conclude that IL-21 enhances flu vaccine-induced antibody responses in SIV+ aged rhesus macaques (RMs), acting as an adjuvant modulating LN germinal center activity. A strategy to supplement IL-21 in aging could be a valuable addition in the toolbox for improving vaccine responses in an aging HIV+ population.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available