Pre-existing influenza antibodies, younger age, and increased CD4 TE+EM predict influenza vaccination responses in transplant recipients

Christiane Rollenhagen; Gomathy Parvathinathan; Margaret R. Stedman; Geetha Chalasani; Kelly A. Birdwell; M.Lee Sanders; Mohan Ramkumar; Lauren E. Higdon; Naiqing Ye; Jefferson J.S. Santos; Scott E. Hensley; Jonathan S. Maltzman

doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2026.111721

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Pre-existing influenza antibodies, younger age, and increased CD4 TE+EM predict influenza vaccination responses in transplant recipients

Journal article

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Pre-existing influenza antibodies, younger age, and increased CD4 TE+EM predict influenza vaccination responses in transplant recipients

Christiane Rollenhagen, Gomathy Parvathinathan, Margaret R. Stedman, Geetha Chalasani, Kelly A. Birdwell, M.Lee Sanders, Mohan Ramkumar, Lauren E. Higdon, Naiqing Ye, Jefferson J.S. Santos, …

Human immunology, Vol.87(5), 111721

05/2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2026.111721

PMID: 41812549

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Abstract

Recipients of kidney transplants require lifelong immunosuppression therapy which is associated with a reduced response to vaccinations. We conducted a longitudinal study of influenza vaccination in US Veteran kidney transplant recipients and correlated demographic factors and T cell characteristics to the immunological outcome of the vaccination. Our data suggest that a consistent history of annual vaccination during the 3 years prior is linked to an increase in influenza antibodies prior to vaccination. High influenza titers post-vaccination are associated with younger age, increased CD4 TE+EM cells and pre-existing anti-influenza IgG levels but no association of CMV serostatus or immunologically aged T cells was detected. Thus, preexisting IgG antibodies, age, and CD4 TE+EM cells could serve as predictors for the successful influenza vaccination in this at-risk population informing targeted interventions to improve vaccine responses, prevent infections, and reduce influenza-associated comorbidities.

Influenza

Kidney Transplant

Vaccination

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pre-existing influenza antibodies, younger age, and increased CD4 TE+EM predict influenza vaccination responses in transplant recipients
Creators: Christiane Rollenhagen - VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Gomathy Parvathinathan - Stanford University
Margaret R. Stedman - Stanford University
Geetha Chalasani - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Kelly A. Birdwell - Nashville VA Medical Center
M.Lee Sanders - Iowa City VA Medical Center
Mohan Ramkumar - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Lauren E. Higdon - VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Naiqing Ye - University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson J.S. Santos - University of Pennsylvania
Scott E. Hensley - University of Pennsylvania
Jonathan S. Maltzman - VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Human immunology, Vol.87(5), 111721
DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2026.111721
PMID: 41812549
NLM abbreviation: Hum Immunol
ISSN: 0198-8859
eISSN: 1879-1166
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: Veterans Administration: I0CX001971 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services: 75N93021C00015
This work was supported by the Veterans Administration I0CX001971 to JSM and in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (contract number 75N93021C00015 to S.E.H) .
Language: English
Date published: 05/2026
Academic Unit: Nephrology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9985147188402771

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