CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF HEALTHY-ADULTS TO BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS VACCINE ANTIGENS

Cell-mediated immunity (CIM) to Bordetella pertussis and acellular per tussis vaccine constituents (pertussis toxin, pertactin, and filamento us hemagglutinin) were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC) and T cell cultures from healthy adults with no record of vaccin ation against, or history of, pertussis. Similarly to stimulation with common recall antigens, PBMC proliferation was induced in 80%-100% of the cultures, depending on the specific B. pertussis stimulant. Proli feration did not occur when antigen-presenting cells were ablated by c hemical or physical methods or with naive cord blood lymphocytes. B. p ertussis antigen stimulation resulted in a preferential induction of t ype 1 cytokine profile, as shown by interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 (but no interleukin-4 or interleukin-5) gene transcripts and actual c ytokine production by T cells. The data suggest that most healthy adul ts are repeatedly exposed to B. pertussis, with natural acquisition of antigen-specific CMI and a putatively protective type 1 cytokine patt ern.