THE CONSEQUENCES OF INFLUENZA VACCINE ON HUMAN NEUTROPHIL FUNCTION

Abstract

Although the neutrophil (PMN) has been viewed as an antibacterial effector cell, there is recent evidence which indicates that these cells may interact with various viruses. The effect of influenza virus antigens on cellular functions was investigated by adherence, chemotaxis, and chemiluminescence (CL) assays.The purpose was to determine whether the administration of influenza vaccine depressed PMN function in vivo, and secondly, whether in vitro incubation of the vaccine with PMNs altered their function. The assays were performed before and after vaccination using cells obtained from normal adults, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and those with asthma. This study demonstrated that the neutrophil CL response from controls and asthma patients, but not CF patients, was temporarily depressed after vaccination. PMN adherence and chemotaxis were unaffected over the same time period in all three groups. However, direct incubation of the cells with viral antigens consistently depressed PMN functions as assessed by the three assays. These results imply that PMN functions may be suppressed following influenza infection and this might predispose the host to secondary bacterial infections. However, PMNs from patients with asthma or CF were not impaired to a greater degree than controls. This infers that other factors are involved which might enhance the opportunity for complications following influenza infection in patients with chronic lung disease.