Boosting BCG vaccination with MVA85A down-regulates the immunoregulatory cytokine TGF-β1
2008

Boosting BCG Vaccination with MVA85A Reduces TGF-β1 Levels

Sample size: 11 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Helen A. Fletcher, Ansar A. Pathan, Tamara K. Berthoud, Susanna J. Dunachie, Kathryn T. Whelan, Nicola C. Alder, Clare R. Sander, Adrian V.S. Hill, Helen McShane

Primary Institution: Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford

Hypothesis

Does boosting BCG vaccination with MVA85A affect TGF-β1 levels and T cell responses?

Conclusion

Boosting BCG vaccination with MVA85A significantly reduces TGF-β1 levels and enhances immune responses in BCG-primed subjects.

Supporting Evidence

  • MVA85A vaccination reduces TGF-β1 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes.
  • TGF-β1 protein levels decreased significantly after vaccination.
  • Enhanced IFN-γ responses to recall antigens were observed in BCG-primed subjects.

Takeaway

This study shows that giving a second vaccine after the first one can help the body fight infections better by lowering a certain protein that can weaken the immune response.

Methodology

The study involved clinical trials with BCG-primed and naïve subjects, measuring TGF-β1 mRNA and protein levels before and after vaccination with MVA85A.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the small number of subjects and the specific population studied.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and focused only on specific immune responses.

Participant Demographics

Subjects were aged 18–55, seronegative for HIV, HBV, and HCV.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.03

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.040

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication