IL-6 suppresses vaccine responses in neonatal mice by enhancing IL-2 activity on T follicular helper cells
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Abstract: The inability of neonates to develop CD4+CXCR5 + PD − 1 + T follicular helper (T FH ) cells contributes to their weak vaccine responses. In adult mice, IL-6 promotes T FH -cell expansion by suppressing the expression of IL-2Rβ on T FH cells. Here, we found a totally opposite role for IL-6 in neonatal mice T FH response. Whereas co-injection of neonatal mice with IL-6 and a conjugate polysaccharide vaccine suppressed T FH response by increasing the production of IL-2 and expression of IL-2Rα and IL-2Rβ on T FH cells, immunization of IL-6 knock-out neonatal mice led to improved antibody responses accompanied by expanded T FH cells as well as lower levels of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors on T FH cells. Moreover, CpG containing vaccine improved T FH response in neonates while suppressing the expression of IL-2 receptors on T FH cells, suggesting that CpG protects T FH cells by inhibiting IL-2 activity. These findings unveil age specific differences in IL-6 mediated vaccine responses and highlight the need to consider age related immunobiological attributes in designing vaccines.
Authors: Swetha Parvathaneni, Jiyeon Yang, Leda Lotspeich-Cole, Jiro Sakai, Robert C Lee, Mustafa Akkoyunlu
Institution: United States Food and Drug Administration
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4307824536