Influenza vaccine induces anti-nuclear and anti-double strand DNA IgG antibodies and their relates to levels of microbial translocation in antiretroviral-treated aviremic HIV-infected patients but not in healthy controls

Abstract

Abstract Background The mechanism of autoreactive antibody induction in HIV disease is unknown. Methods In this study, blood samples from healthy controls (n = 16) and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated HIV infected patients (n = 26) receiving 2013–2014 seasonal influenza vaccine were analyzed pre-vaccination (D0) and post-vaccination (D14). B cell function, LPS, 16S rDNA, anti-nuclear IgG (ANA, OD) and anti-dsDNA (IU/ml) IgG in plasma were evaluated. Data are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]). Results At baseline, there were increased frequencies of B cell apoptosis and cycling expression, and increased plasma LPS [pg/mL, 18.0 (13.3–22.0) vs 13.4 (9.82–15.2), P = 0.006] in patients compare with controls. Bacterial 16S rDNA tended to be higher in patients compared with controls [copies/μL, 38.2 (30.3–44.9) vs 27.8 (2.3–53.6), P = 0.18]. B cells of patients exhibited increased TLR2 and 4 expression compared with controls, and TLR signaling pathway activation by microarray on D0. Plasma ANA levels on D0 and D14 were 0.31 (0.25–0.41) and 0.58 (0.31–1.29) versus 0.32 (0.23–0.40) and 0.31 (0.24–0.38), anti-dsDNA IgG levels on D0 and D14 were 15.2 (8.06–23.7) and 20.2 (13.0–50.7) versus 15.3 (12.3–37.1) and 15.5 (13.0–36.7) in patients and controls respectively. Only patients showed significant increase of both auto-IgG post-vaccination (P < 0.001). Direct correlations between plasma LPS and ANA (r = 0.48, P = 0.01), and plasma 16S rDNA and anti-dsDNA IgGs (r = 0.44, P = 0.04) were found only in patients. Conclusion B cell function in HIV patients is not fully recovered by ART treatment, as reflected by producing autoreactive Abs in response to influenza vaccinations and its correlates with levels of microbial translocation.