Have you noticed that getting a vaccination boosts your overall immunity? You may get fewer colds, for example, and the colds you do get are not severe. It has been known for a while that although vaccinations are disease specific, some vaccinations significantly reduce overall mortality among children.
Role of immunizations in the recent decline in childhood mortality and the changes in the female/male mortality ratio in rural Senegal.
Am J Epidemiol. 1995 Sep 15;142(6):643-52.
A. Desgrées du Loû, G. Pison and P. Aaby
Abstract
In early 1987, immunizations were introduced to an isolated area of eastern Senegal where there had previously been no regular immunizations. Since immunizations were the only change introduced in the area during this period, this allowed the authors to study the impact of immunizations on mortality in different age groups and the possible interaction with sex differences in mortality. They compared mortality rates for the 6 years before and the 6 years after the introduction of immunization.
Neonatal mortality declined 31% (95% confidence interval (Cl) 17 to 43); between 1 and 8 months of age, the reduction was 20% (95% Cl -2 to 37); and between 9 and 59 months of age, mortality declined 48% (95% Cl 39 to 56). Excluding acute measles deaths, the reduction was 16% (95% Cl –8 to 35) between 1 and 8 months of age and 32% (95% Cl 20 to 43) between 9 and 59 months of age.
The decline was stronger in villages that maintained high coverage after the initial national campaign, whereas mortality increased again in the villages where the coverage declined. Since the reduction in mortality was most marked after 9 months of age, measles immunization is likely to have been the most important vaccination. Both female and male mortality declined but not equally quickly. The reduction in mortality in the neonatal period was significantly greater in males than in females, resulting in an increase in the female/male mortality ratio from 0.64 (95% Cl 0.50 to 0.83) to 0.96 (95% Cl 0.71 to 1.30), p = 0.04. After 9 months of age, the reduction in mortality was somewhat greater in females than in males, resulting in a decrease in the female/male mortality ratio from 1.04 (95% Cl 0.85 to 1.28) to 0.79 (95% Cl 0.62 to 1.02), р = 0.10. Am J Epidemiol 1995;142:643–52.
PMID: 7653475
When we read this, we immediately wondered how LivingTheCRWay members could apply it. Could a carefully planned vaccination program strengthen your immune system overall? Would it help members who are immunocompromised with HIV or other immune challenges? If so, how?
Vaccines can affect the adaptive immune system positively so that antibodies are formed that provide protection for a specific disease.
New evidence has emerged that vaccines strengthen immunity overall by boosting the Innate Immunity system. Here’s the research (Bacille de Calmette et Guérin or BCG is a vaccine against tuberculosis):
Bacille Calmette-Guerin induces NOD2-dependent nonspecific protection from reinfection via epigenetic reprogramming of monocytes.
Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences. U S A. 2012 Oct 23;109(43):17537-42. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1202870109
Kleinnijenhuis J1, Quintin J, Preijers F, Joosten LA, Ifrim DC, Saeed S, Jacobs C, van Loenhout J, de Jong D, Stunnenberg HG, Xavier RJ, van der Meer JW, van Crevel R, Netea MG.
Abstract
Adaptive features of innate immunity, recently described as “trained immunity,” have been documented in plants, invertebrate animals, and mice, but not yet in humans. Here we show that bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in healthy volunteers led not only to a four- to sevenfold increase in the production of IFN-γ, but also to a twofold enhanced release of monocyte-derived cytokines, such as TNF and IL-1β, in response to unrelated bacterial and fungal pathogens. The enhanced function of circulating monocytes persisted for at least 3 mo after vaccination and was accompanied by increased expression of activation markers such as CD11b and Toll-like receptor 4. These training effects were induced through the NOD2 receptor and mediated by increased histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation.
In experimental studies, BCG vaccination induced T- and B-lymphocyte–independent protection of severe combined immunodeficiency SCID mice from disseminated candidiasis (100% survival in BCG-vaccinated mice vs. 30% in control mice). In conclusion, BCG induces trained immunity and nonspecific protection from infections through epigenetic reprogramming of innate immune cells.
PMID: 22988082
This is tantalizing. Epigenetic reprogramming that results in strengthening of the immune system might be helpful for all kinds of conditions. It also might slow age-related decline of the immune system.
Should we make arrangements to get a BCG vaccination? It is not normally given in the U.S. But it is approved by the FDA and BCG is used experimentally to treat bladder cancer.
“Once in the bladder, the live organisms enter macrophages, where they induce the same type of histologic and immunologic reaction as found in patients with tuberculosis. BCG vaccine also has been shown to have a predilection for entering bladder cancer cells, here the proteins are broken down and fragments are combined with histocompatibility antigens and displayed on the cell surface. This induces a cytokine and direct cell-to-cell cytotoxicity response, which targets these cells for destruction.
The overall response to BCG is limited if the patient is immunocompromised.”
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