Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Abstract

Human CD4+ Memory T-cell Populations Secrete Th1 Cytokines in Response to Influenza Antigen Stimulation

Shan Chen, David Roumanes, Maria T. Arevalo, Yanping Chen and Mingtao Zeng

Seasonal influenza vaccine efficacy is measured by the vaccine’s ability to elicit strain-specific antibody responses. Every year, resources are allocated into formulating new influenza vaccines. Candidate vaccines utilizing memory T-cells may afford long-term protection. Our study characterizes the human CD4+ memory T-cell response to influenza virus. Intracellular cytokine staining assay was used to assess T-cell production of several cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-17) found in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with influenza antigens. Production of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2) was significant in activated CD4+ T-cells after stimulation, whereas Th2 cytokine secretion remained unchanged. In addition, a significant increase in multifunctional CD4+ T-cells that simultaneously secreted combinations of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α was observed. Our studies have revealed that CD4+ T-cell responses against influenza are Th1-biased, raising the possibility of identifying these populations as targets for successful influenza vaccination