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Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Levin, MJ; Oxman, MN; Zhang, JH; Johnson, GR; Stanley, H; Hayward, AR; Caulfield, MJ; Irwin, MR; Smith, JG; Clair, J; Chan, ISF; Williams, H ...
Published in: J Infect Dis
March 15, 2008

BACKGROUND: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 38,546 subjects > or =60 years old demonstrated efficacy of a high-potency live-attenuated Oka/Merck varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine. The trial included an immunology substudy to determine the relationship of VZV-specific immune responses to vaccination and clinical outcome. METHODS: The immunology substudy enrolled 1395 subjects at 2 sites where blood samples obtained prior to vaccination, at 6 weeks after vaccination, and at 1, 2, and 3 years thereafter were tested for VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity (VZV-CMI) by gamma-interferon ELISPOT and responder cell frequency assays and for VZV antibody by glycoprotein ELISA. RESULTS: VZV-CMI and VZV antibodies were significantly increased in vaccine recipients at 6 weeks after vaccination. The vaccine-induced increases in VZV-CMI persisted during the 3 years of follow-up, although their magnitude decreased over time. The magnitude of these VZV-specific immune responses was greater in subjects 60-69 years old than in subjects > or =70 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The zoster vaccine induced a significant increase in VZV-CMI and VZV antibody. The magnitude and duration of the boost in VZV-CMI in vaccine recipients and the relationship of this boost to age paralleled the clinical effects of the vaccine observed during the efficacy trial. These findings support the hypothesis that boosting VZV-CMI protects older adults against herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.

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Published In

J Infect Dis

DOI

ISSN

0022-1899

Publication Date

March 15, 2008

Volume

197

Issue

6

Start / End Page

825 / 835

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Humans
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human
  • Herpes Zoster Vaccine
  • Herpes Zoster
  • Female
  • Double-Blind Method
 

Citation

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Levin, M. J., Oxman, M. N., Zhang, J. H., Johnson, G. R., Stanley, H., Hayward, A. R., … Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Shingles Prevention Study Investigators, . (2008). Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine. J Infect Dis, 197(6), 825–835. https://doi.org/10.1086/528696
Levin, M. J., M. N. Oxman, J. H. Zhang, G. R. Johnson, H. Stanley, A. R. Hayward, M. J. Caulfield, et al. “Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine.J Infect Dis 197, no. 6 (March 15, 2008): 825–35. https://doi.org/10.1086/528696.
Levin MJ, Oxman MN, Zhang JH, Johnson GR, Stanley H, Hayward AR, et al. Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;197(6):825–35.
Levin, M. J., et al. “Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine.J Infect Dis, vol. 197, no. 6, Mar. 2008, pp. 825–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1086/528696.
Levin MJ, Oxman MN, Zhang JH, Johnson GR, Stanley H, Hayward AR, Caulfield MJ, Irwin MR, Smith JG, Clair J, Chan ISF, Williams H, Harbecke R, Marchese R, Straus SE, Gershon A, Weinberg A, Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Shingles Prevention Study Investigators. Varicella-zoster virus-specific immune responses in elderly recipients of a herpes zoster vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;197(6):825–835.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Infect Dis

DOI

ISSN

0022-1899

Publication Date

March 15, 2008

Volume

197

Issue

6

Start / End Page

825 / 835

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Humans
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human
  • Herpes Zoster Vaccine
  • Herpes Zoster
  • Female
  • Double-Blind Method