Gelatin-specific
cellular immune responses persist for more than 3 years after priming
with gelatin containing DTaP vaccine.
Kumagai T,
Kamada M, Igarashi C, Yuri K, Furukawa H, Nagata N, Saito A, Okui T,
Yano S.
Pediatric Allergy and Infectious Diseases Society of
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. tkuma@mb.infosnow.ne.jp
BACKGROUND:
Gelatin-specific cell-mediated immunity develops in subjects inoculated
with gelatin containing DTaP vaccine. However, it is not yet known
whether such established sensitization to gelatin disappears or persists
with time. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to follow the patients
with gelatin sensitization elicited by DTaP vaccination for their
lymphocyte responsiveness and IgE, IgG antibody specific to gelatin over
several years and to compare the activities with those at the time of
enrollment into the study. METHODS: We studied 28 subjects who developed
positive lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) after receiving gelatin
containing DTaP vaccine and eight subjects who had a negative LPT after
inoculation of non-gelatin DTaP. Determination of IgE, IgG antibodies
and specific lymphoproliferative response directed against gelatin were
performed at enrollment and on follow up. RESULTS: None of the subjects
had antibody to gelatin at enrollment and none developed gelatin IgE or
IgG during follow-up. There was no significant difference in the SIs of
the subjects receiving gelatin DTaP (P = 0.150, 95% CI, -0.198-0.032),
whereas lymphocyte activity to gelatin increased between enrollment and
follow-up in the subjects with non-gelatin DTaP (P = 0.011, 95% CI,
0.063-0.338). CONCLUSION: Gelatin-specific lymphocyte activity persists
at comparable levels for more than 3 years in subjects who acquire a
positive LPT response to gelatin after receiving primary DTaP vaccine
containing gelatin. Furthermore, five out of eight subjects initially
with negative LPT to gelatin have been shown to acquire specific LPT
with time.