The Influence of a Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccination on Plasma Antibody Levels against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Metabolic Disease Patients: A Single-Arm Pilot Clinical Trial
Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov,
Inês Magro dos Reis,
Yvonne Oligschlaeger,
Tim Hendrikx,
Dennis M. Meesters,
Annick Vanclooster,
Nele Vanhoutvin,
Ger H. Koek,
Marit Westerterp,
Christoph J. Binder,
David Cassiman,
Tom Houben
Affiliations
Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov
Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Inês Magro dos Reis
Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Yvonne Oligschlaeger
Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Tim Hendrikx
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Dennis M. Meesters
Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Annick Vanclooster
Liver Research Unit, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Nele Vanhoutvin
Liver Research Unit, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Ger H. Koek
Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Marit Westerterp
Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
Christoph J. Binder
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
David Cassiman
Liver Research Unit, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Tom Houben
Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
As a mediator between lipid metabolism dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a promising therapeutical target in a wide range of metabolic diseases. In mice, pneumococcal immunization increases anti-phosphorylcholine and oxLDL antibody levels, and reduces atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and Niemann–Pick disease burden. These findings suggest that pneumococcal vaccination may be a useful preventive and therapeutical strategy in metabolic disease patients. In this pilot clinical trial, our aim was to determine whether the administration of a pneumococcal vaccine increases anti-phosphorylcholine and anti-oxLDL antibody levels in metabolic disease patients. The following patients were enrolled: four patients with familial partial lipodystrophy (all women, mean age 32 years old); three familial hypercholesterolemia patients (one girl, two boys; mean age 13 years); and two Niemann–Pick type B (NP-B) patients (two men, mean age 37.5 years old). Participants received one active dose of a 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar 13) and were followed-up for four weeks. Four weeks after Prevenar 13 vaccination, no differences were observed in patients’ levels of anti-oxLDL IgM or IgG antibodies. In addition, we observed a reduction in anti-phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) IgM antibody levels, whereas no differences were observed in anti-PC IgG antibody titers. These findings indicate that Prevenar 13 vaccination does not induce an immune response against oxLDL in patients with metabolic diseases. Therefore, Prevenar 13 is not suited to target the metabolic disruptor and pro-inflammatory mediator oxLDL in patients.
