Differential Gene Expression Elicited by Children in Response to the 2015–2016 Live Attenuated vs. Inactivated Influenza Vaccine

Abstract

BackgroundIn recent influenza seasons, the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has not demonstrated the same level of vaccine effectiveness as that observed among children who received the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). To better understand this difference, this study compared the mRNA sequencing transcription profile (RNA seq) in children who received either IIV or LAIV.MethodsChildren 3–17 years of age receiving quadrivalent influenza vaccine were enrolled. Blood samples were collected on Day 0 prior to vaccination and again on Day 7 (range 6–10 days) following vaccination. Total RNA was isolated from PAXgene tubes and sequenced for a custom panel of 89 transcripts using the TruSeq Targeted RNA Expression method. Fold differences in normalized RNA seq counts from Day 0 to Day 7 were calculated, log2 transformed and compared between the two vaccine groups.ResultsOf 73 children, 47 received IIV and 26 received LAIV. Following IIV vaccination, 12 genes demonstrated significant differential expression at Day 7. In contrast, following LAIV vaccination, seven genes demonstrated significant differential expression at Day 7, five of which were not differentially expressed by IIV. Two genes demonstrated similar patterns of regulation in both IIV and LAIV recipients.ConclusionDifferential regulation of genes was observed between 2015 and 2016 LAIV and IIV recipients. These results help to elucidate the immune response to influenza vaccines and might help explain the difference in vaccine effectiveness observed in recent years between LAIV and IIV.Disclosures R. Zimmerman, sanofi pasteur: Grant Investigator, Research grant Merck & Co, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Research grant Pfizer, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Research grant; C. J. Lin, Sanofi: Grant Investigator, Research grant Merck & Co, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Research grant Pfizer, Inc..: Grant Investigator, Research grant; M. P. Nowalk, Merck & Co, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Research grant Pfizer, Inc.: Grant Investigator, Research grant