Diletta Valentini1, Valentina Marcellini2, Simona Bianchi1, Alberto Villani1, Marzia Facchini3, Isabella Donatelli3, Maria Rita Castrucci3, Emiliano Marasco2, Chiara Farroni2, Rita Carsetti4. 1. Pediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 2. Immunology Unit, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. 4. Immunology Unit, Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: rita.carsetti@opbg.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immunodeficiency is an integral aspect of Down syndrome, as demonstrated by the increased susceptibility to infection of affected. Mortality is still higher than in general population, with respiratory infections among the major causes of death. As more people with Down syndrome are living today than ever before, it is indispensable to develop strategies to prevent and cure the associated disorders. Vaccination is the most successful instrument of preventive medicine. Special seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination strategies have been designed for individuals with risk conditions of all ages. Down syndrome individuals are not included in the high-risk categories. METHODS: We enrolled in our study 15 children with Down syndrome and their siblings, vaccinated for the first time with seasonal influenza vaccine and receiving a booster dose of a glyco-conjugated pneumococcal vaccine. We compared the immunological features and response to vaccination measuring serum antibody titers and frequency of specific memory B cells. RESULTS: We confirm that a severe reduction of switched memory B cells is always associated to Down syndrome. After primary vaccination Down syndrome children generate significantly less specific switched memory B cells than their siblings. The response to a booster dose of vaccine is instead comparable in both groups. The production of specific antibodies was equally effective in Down syndrome and controls both after primary and secondary immunization. CONCLUSIONS: Down syndrome individuals should be considered a high risk group, because of their increased susceptibility to infection and reduced number of switched memory B cells. Tailored vaccination protocols are needed in order to reduce their burden of infections throughout life.
BACKGROUND:Immunodeficiency is an integral aspect of Down syndrome, as demonstrated by the increased susceptibility to infection of affected. Mortality is still higher than in general population, with respiratory infections among the major causes of death. As more people with Down syndrome are living today than ever before, it is indispensable to develop strategies to prevent and cure the associated disorders. Vaccination is the most successful instrument of preventive medicine. Special seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination strategies have been designed for individuals with risk conditions of all ages. Down syndrome individuals are not included in the high-risk categories. METHODS: We enrolled in our study 15 children with Down syndrome and their siblings, vaccinated for the first time with seasonal influenza vaccine and receiving a booster dose of a glyco-conjugated pneumococcal vaccine. We compared the immunological features and response to vaccination measuring serum antibody titers and frequency of specific memory B cells. RESULTS: We confirm that a severe reduction of switched memory B cells is always associated to Down syndrome. After primary vaccination Down syndrome children generate significantly less specific switched memory B cells than their siblings. The response to a booster dose of vaccine is instead comparable in both groups. The production of specific antibodies was equally effective in Down syndrome and controls both after primary and secondary immunization. CONCLUSIONS: Down syndrome individuals should be considered a high risk group, because of their increased susceptibility to infection and reduced number of switched memory B cells. Tailored vaccination protocols are needed in order to reduce their burden of infections throughout life.
Authors: Katharina Lambert; Keagan G Moo; Azlann Arnett; Gautam Goel; Alex Hu; Kaitlin J Flynn; Cate Speake; Alice E Wiedeman; Vivian H Gersuk; Peter S Linsley; Carla J Greenbaum; S Alice Long; Rebecca Partridge; Jane H Buckner; Bernard Khor Journal: Sci Transl Med Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 19.319
Authors: Chiara Farroni; Emiliano Marasco; Valentina Marcellini; Ezio Giorda; Diletta Valentini; Stefania Petrini; Valentina D'Oria; Marco Pezzullo; Simona Cascioli; Marco Scarsella; Alberto G Ugazio; Giovanni C De Vincentiis; Ola Grimsholm; Rita Carsetti Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-11-20 Impact factor: 7.561