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Characteristics of Immune Responses to Native and Protein Conjugated Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Type 14
Author(s) -
DOBBELSTEEN G. P. J. M.,
KROES H.,
REES E. P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1995.tb03564.x
Subject(s) - immune system , immunization , antibody , immunology , antigen , spleen , polysaccharide , biology , antibody response , pneumococcal vaccine , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pneumoniae , biochemistry , antibiotics
The immune response to pneumococcal polysaccharide type 14 (PPS‐14), induced by native PPS‐14 was compared with the response induced by PPS‐14 conjugated with CRM 197 (PPS‐14‐CRM 197 ). In our animal model, immunization with PPS‐14‐CRM 197 gave a significant enhancement of anti‐PPS‐14 serum titres for IgM and IgG. but not for IgA. Also an increase in total number of anti‐PPS‐14 antibody‐secreting ceils was found. Using immunohistochemical techniques, a different distribution pattern of specific antibody‐containing cells in spleen section after immunization with PPS‐I4‐CRM 197 was observed. Furthermore, a higher number of IFN‐γ producing cells was found after immunization with PPS‐14‐CRM 197 , as compared with immunization with PPS‐14. This enhanced IFN‐γ production may be the cause for enhanced IgG response observed after immunization with PPS‐14‐CRM 197 . The specific immune response was less affected by splenectomy in animals immunized with PPS‐14‐CRM 197 than with PPS‐14. However, an age‐related response to the native as well as the conjugated form of the PPS‐14 was observed, since no effect of conjugation with CRM 197 was seen in the onset of the immune response to PPS‐14 in young animals. In conclusion, our results affirm the hypothesis that conjugation of polysaccharides changes the characteristics of the antigen towards a thymus‐dependent antigen.