Evaluation of the effect of two adjuvants co-administered with nasal recombinant hemagglutinin influenza vaccine on immune cells in mice.

OBJECTIVES

Vaccination is the most potent and cost-effective way to combat the threat of influenza outbreaks. Strategies to enhance influenza vaccine immunogenicity include the use of high antigen dose vaccines and the inclusion of an appropriate adjuvant. The benefits of adjuvants include enhanced immunogenicity, antigen-sparing, and greater duration of protection. However, adjuvants can increase vaccine reactogenicity and may adversely impact vaccine safety; hence, both risks and benefits need to be carefullyconsidered when adding adjuvants to a vaccine.

METHODS

In this study, we examined the efficacy of aluminum hydroxide (alum), a representative Th2-type adjuvant, and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN), a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, as adjuvants for the influenza vaccine in mice. BALB/c micewere transnasally administered recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) H1N1 vaccine formulated with or without alum and/or CpG ODN.

RESULTS

The double adjuvanted vaccine was effective for inducing B cells and NK cells in the lymph node, and B cells in the lung after infection. Additionally, double adjuvants were observed to be effective for antibody production and immune cell activation in various organs, in addition to suppressing side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Intranasally-administered double adjuvanted vaccines may serve as an effective means to prevent infection and to reduce side effects of the influenza vaccine.