Citations

Abstract Background While immunologic aging impacts immune responses to vaccination, consistent biomarkers associated with aging of the immune system and suboptimal serologic response to influenza vaccination have not been well-studied. Identification of readily measurable biomarkers of immunosenescence may have predictive clinical utility and inform targeted influenza vaccination strategies and future research into aging of the immune system. Methods We quantified multiple serum/plasma and cell-based parameters related to immune aging (CMV serostatus, plasma cytokines/chemokines, TREC, TERT, NK cell functionality, and DNA methylation clock) at baseline in an adult (age range 18-85) cohort of 2019-2020 influenza vaccine recipients (n=337) and evaluated their associations with vaccine-induced HAI response to influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B/Victoria strains. Results CMV IgG titers were significantly positively correlated with vaccine-induced increases in HAI antibody titers to influenza A/H1N1 ( p= 0.02) and A/H3N2 ( p =0.014). CMV IgG titers ( p= 0.00096) and CMV seropositivity ( p= 0.003) were also associated with Day 28 HAI seropositivity against influenza A/H3N2 in subjects seronegative at baseline. Conversely, plasma MCP-1 levels were negatively associated with HAI responses to the A/H3N2 ( p= 0.04) strain. These findings were significant independent of age, sex or vaccine type received (high vs standard-dose seasonal influenza vaccine) Conclusions Our identification of significant relationships between easily quantifiable immune markers and HAI responses to influenza A vaccine strains across sex and age enhances our knowledge of specific links between immune aging and influenza vaccine-induced immunity. These markers could be leveraged for predicting response to influenza immunization.

ABSTRACT Background Sunlight has profound impacts on physical and mental health, beyond vision, including effects on circadian rhythms, alertness, mood, and sleep. A family history of any mood disorders is strongly associated with psychiatric disorders including bipolar disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between a family history of any mood disorder in patients with bipolar I disorder and solar insolation at varied international onset locations. Methods Data for this analysis were available from 5842 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder obtained at 83 collection sites in both hemispheres. This included 4752 patients from 71 collection sites in the northern hemisphere and 1090 patients from 12 collection sites in the southern hemisphere. Patient data variables were obtained from records or interviews. Solar insolation data were obtained from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Power database for each onset location, and the ratio of the mean monthly minimum/mean monthly maximum solar insolation was calculated. Typically, the ratio is largest near the equator (little yearly change in solar insolation) and smallest near the poles (large yearly change in solar insolation). Results A significant relationship was found between a family history of any mood disorder, the ratio of the mean monthly minimum/mean monthly maximum solar insolation, and gender. The odds of a family history of mood disorder increased as patient location nears the poles and decreased near the equator. Female gender also increased the odds of having a family history of a mood disorder. Conclusions This study highlighted the association between family history, solar insolation, and gender in international patients with bipolar I disorder. Given the profound effects of sunlight on human health, the family of patients with bipolar disorder who live in the same location with the same solar insolation, and especially females, may be at increased risk for a mood disorder.