Cytokine Production Associated with Smallpox Vaccine Responses

Abstract

Smallpox was eradicated 34 years ago due to the success of the smallpox vaccine; yet, the vaccine continues to be studied because of its importance in responding to potential biological warfare and the adverse events associated with current smallpox vaccines. Interindividual variations in vaccine response are observed and are, in part, due to genetic variation. In some cases, these varying responses lead to adverse events, which occur at a relatively high rate for the smallpox vaccine compared with other vaccines. Here, we aim to summarize the cytokine responses associated with smallpox vaccine response to date. Along with a description of each of these cytokines, we describe the genetic and adverse event data associated with cytokine responses to smallpox vaccination.

Keywords::

• cellular immunity
• cytokines
• humoral immunity
• smallpox vaccine
• vaccines
• vaccinia virus

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, MN, USA, the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, CA, USA and the subjects who participated in our studies. The authors thank CL Vitse for her editorial assistance.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This project was funded by federal funds from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSN266200400065C (N01AI40065). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. GA Poland is the chair of a Safety Evaluation Committee for novel investigational vaccine trials being conducted by Merck Research Laboratories. GA Poland offers consultative advice on vaccine development to Merck & Co. Inc., CSL Biotherapies, Avianax, Sanofi Pasteur, Dynavax, Novartis Vaccines and Therapeutics, PAXVAX Inc., Emergent Biosolutions, Adjuvance and Vaxness. GA Poland and IG Ovsyannikova hold two patents related to vaccinia peptide research. These activities have been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and are conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. This research has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and was conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by federal funds from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSN266200400065C (N01AI40065). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. GA Poland is the chair of a Safety Evaluation Committee for novel investigational vaccine trials being conducted by Merck Research Laboratories. GA Poland offers consultative advice on vaccine development to Merck & Co. Inc., CSL Biotherapies, Avianax, Sanofi Pasteur, Dynavax, Novartis Vaccines and Therapeutics, PAXVAX Inc., Emergent Biosolutions, Adjuvance and Vaxness. GA Poland and IG Ovsyannikova hold two patents related to vaccinia peptide research. These activities have been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and are conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. This research has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and was conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.