Negative IgG Varicella Zoster Virus Antibody Status: Immune Responses Pre and Post Re-immunization

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family and causes chickenpox (varicella) and herpes zoster (shingles) [1]. Chickenpox is highly contagious and causes acute infection [1]. This disease is characterized by a dermal vesiculopustular rash that develops 10–21 days following exposure [1]. Primary infection with VZV results in immunity from subsequent infection; VZV remains latent within sensory neurons and may subsequently reactivate, causing disease (herpes zoster) [1, 2]. Herpes zoster is a painful condition that occurs in older non-immune adults or those with waning immunity to VZV and in patients with impaired cellular immunity [3].

Both humoral and cellular immune responses have been described in VZV [4]. Immunity to VZV consists of VZV-specific Abs and CD4 and CD8 T cells [5]. Harper and Grose [6] reported IgM and IgG responses to VZV p32/p36 polypeptide complex after chicken pox and zoster and in recipients of the VZV vaccine [6]. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that IgE anti-VZV responses before, during, and after shingles [4] and peripheral blood lymphocyte CD23 expression were decreased during shingles and remained low after infection [4]. It has been suggested that IgE anti-viral responses might contribute to protective immunity in specific populations [4].

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of chicken pox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults [7], which has decreased yearly chicken pox cases from 13% to approximately 2% [7]. The decrease of varicella incidence is related to the efficacy of the vaccine, to the achieved coverage rate, and to the adopted two-dose strategy.

VZV immunity could be measured evaluating both humoral (Ab titers) and cell-mediated immune responses [8]. However, measuring VZV IgG Abs may be challenging, especially for detecting Ab levels after immunization; serologic techniques may lack sensitivity and specificity [9]. There is not a universal consensus on an IgG level related to protection. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests are usually not considered adequate to measure immunity against VZV [9]; a glycoprotein (gp)-based ELISA is a more reliable test but is not commercially available.

Varicella vaccine failure is poorly understood, and currently there are no good diagnostic tools to differentiate primary vaccine failure versus failure to maintain protective Ab levels. Primary vaccine failure is defined as failure to mount a protective immune response after one dose of vaccine, and secondary vaccine failure is defined as a gradual loss of immunity after an initial immune response over a period of years after vaccination (waning immunity) [10]. Varicella immunity is an important issue because of ongoing cases and potential exposure of non-immune persons. The aim of the current study was to examine vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in a patient with negative IgG VZV Ab status after two doses of varicella vaccine, before and after re-immunization.

Prior to re-immunization, VZV IgG Ab levels were negative (< 0.90 Ab index) and VZV IgM VZV Ab levels were also negative (≤ 0.90 Ab index) (Table 1), indicating either no prior exposure to VZV or lack of a specific immune response to immunization. However, 1 week post-re-immunization VZV IgG Ab levels were positive (690.70 Ab index) and VZV IgM Ab levels were negative (≤ 0.90 Ab index) (Table 2). For weeks 2–8, VZV IgG Ab was present (+), while VZV IgM levels were negative (−), except for week 8, where VZV IgM levels were positive (0.99 Ab index) (Table 2). In contrast, VZV IgE Ab levels were undetectable pre- and post-re-immuniztion (Table 2). Measles Ab IgG levels were < 25.00 AU/ml (range < 25.00 negative, 25.00–29.99 equivocal, > 29.99 positive). Mumps Ab IgG levels were 17.90 AU/ml (range < 9.00 negative, 9.00–10.99 equivocal, > 10.99 positive). Rubella Ab IgG levels were < 0.90 Ab index (range < 0.90 negative, 0.90–0.99 equivocal, ≥ 1.00 positive) (Table 1).

Pre-re-immunization, distributions of lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD19+, CD4+CD60+, CD8+CD60+) in the peripheral blood of the patient were all within normal ranges (Table 1). However, post-re-immunization (4 weeks), numbers of T cell subpopulations remained unchanged, while CD19+ B cells increased 48% (Table 2). Post-re-immunization (8 weeks), the numbers of T cell subpopulations remained unchanged, while the numbers of CD19+ B cells decreased slightly (6%) (Table 3).

No further interventions indicated.

No repeat titers or follow-up was indicated at this time. A potential indication for repeat titers would be pregnancy or high-risk exposure. The outcome is a protective immune response.

In humans, humoral and cellular immune responses are inducible by vaccines for infectious diseases [4, 6, 11]. However, some individuals may experience weaker than expected immunologic responses than others. The diagnosis of primary varicella virus infection can be made by demonstrating seroconversion from negative to positive specific IgG antibody response or by detecting virus-specific IgM [1, 9]. In the current study, we found that rapid (1 week) post-re-immunization VZV IgG responses were observed and the numbers of blood CD19+ B cells increased. Specific IgE VZV responses were not observed, indicating that IgE responses to the VZV vaccine are not a universal phenomenon but may represent responses observed only in selected individuals or at specific time points following immunization not captured by our study. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated the existence of IgE anti-VZV Abs and long-term persistence of IgE anti-VZV in pediatric and adult serum post-chicken pox infection and after vaccination with the VZV vaccine [12].

This case demonstrates that in a subgroup of people, the Ab response to vaccination with VZV may be low despite normal cell-mediated responses. Prior literature has reported persistent serologic non-response to VZV immunization in a patient with adequate cellular response [13]. Since currently utilized ELISA screening tests are variabile, ELISAs with greater sensitivity are necessary. When VZV Ab levels are low, assays that test cellular responses (lymphocyte proliferation assays or commercial assays not available) should be used.

The accepted standard for identifying VZV vaccine responses or prior disease exposure is measuring the IgG Ab titer [13]. Other varicella Ab assays include: complement fixation, indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), LA, and ELISA [13]. These assays are sensitive and can detect Ab to natural infection, but a level of variability exists in detecting Ab levels after vaccination [14]. It has been speculated that the VZV Ab response after immunization with the VZV vaccine (live-attenuated) is lower (> tenfold) than after natural infection [15].

In our patient, who had been previously vaccinated with two doses of VZV vaccine (> 10 years), pre-re-vaccination IgG-anti VZV Ab levels were negative (< 0.90 antibody index) and IgM anti-VZV Ab levels were also negative (< 0.90 antibody index), indicating either no prior exposure to VZV or a lack of a specific immune response to immunization. These results may indicate that evaluation of positive immune status through detection of IgG VZV antibody responses after vaccination may not be sufficient. Often, it is important to assess the varicella immunity status of adolescents and adults and vaccinate those who lack evidence of varicella immunity [16]. If immunity needs to be determined, but the IgG in serum is below the cutoff for immunity, a cellular immune response assay or rechecking IgG following a booster immunization is recommended [16].

Vaccine-mediated immunity is complicated [17]. A vaccine stimulates specific Abs; protection depends on the amount of vaccine-induced Ab and the quality of the response (antigen-binding avidity) [17]. B cell responses to a vaccine are mediated by T cells, which are important for long-term immunologic memory [17]. The innate immune system responds to molecules associated with pathogens and host cell damage (pathogen-associated molecular patterns) [18]. In addition, cytokines produced by innate cells can activate adaptive immune responses (e.g., proliferation, cytokine or Ab production by T and B cells) [18].

In specific individuals, contributory factors and/or causes associated with VZV seronegative status may include waning Ab responses or vaccine failure. Waning of vaccine-induced Ab levels can be expected and has been reported in certain vaccinated adults (MMR vaccine) [19]. However, the current findings have confirmed previous observations regarding the relationship between the primary Ab response to the varicella vaccine and protection against varicella disease [20].

It should also be mentioned that our patient received two doses of MMR vaccine, but had negative responses for measles and rubella. Although the MMR vaccine is efficacious (~ 90%), vaccine failure or loss of immunity after one or two doses of vaccine has been documented [21]. It has been reported that 15% of people do not develop Ab titers to one or more of the components of MMR after a single dose; after two doses, about 2% will still not have positive titers [21]. It can be speculated that in our patient, this may be due to suboptimal cell-mediated immune responses against the measles and rubella vaccine or perhaps due to fewer virus-specific T cells.

In humans, responses to infectious diseases or vaccines depend on many different cell populations and interactions between different cell populations [22]. In the current study, we also observed that post-booster immunization, the numbers of T cell subpopulations remained unchanged but the numbers of CD19+ B cells were increased (by 48%) in blood (4 weeks post-immunization). This may indicate stimulation or maintenance of memory B cells. B cells play multiple important roles during the induction of immune responses to vaccines [23] and also have regulatory functions. They can act as antigen-presenting cells or effector cells (which produce Abs, cytokines, and chemokines) [24‐26]. Since there was an increase in the number of circulating CD19+ B cells after re-immunization, this effect may be due to increased activation of B cells in lymphoid tissue. It could also be that memory B cells and their response to vaccination may be less predictable than previously thought. Primary non-responders have a T cell deficiency, but secondary vaccine deficiencies (as observed in this study) are less well understood. Since the numbers of T cells did not increase in our patient, it could be speculated that a lack of a robust T cell memory response may indicate the underlying pathology of secondary vaccine failure.

Understanding the immune mechanisms that underlie the successful generation of immune memory responses after VZV vaccination has remained a challenge and has significant implications for the management of vaccine non-responders. Further studies are necessary to investigate new strategies to improve vaccine responses.