Immune Netw.  2015 Oct;15(5):213-221. 10.4110/in.2015.15.5.213.

Mechanisms of Cross-protection by Influenza Virus M2-based Vaccines

• Lee YN
• Kim MC
• Lee YT
• Kim YJ
• Kang SM

• KMID: 2150850
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2015.15.5.213

Abstract

Current influenza virus vaccines are based on strain-specific surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) antigens and effective only when the predicted vaccine strains and circulating viruses are well-matched. The current strategy of influenza vaccination does not prevent the pandemic outbreaks and protection efficacy is reduced or ineffective if mutant strains emerge. It is of high priority to develop effective vaccines and vaccination strategies conferring a broad range of cross protection. The extracellular domain of M2 (M2e) is highly conserved among human influenza A viruses and has been utilized to develop new vaccines inducing cross protection against different subtypes of influenza A virus. However, immune mechanisms of cross protection by M2e-based vaccines still remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we review immune correlates and mechanisms conferring cross protection by M2e-based vaccines. Molecular and cellular immune components that are known to be involved in M2 immune-mediated protection include antibodies, B cells, T cells, alveolar macrophages, Fc receptors, complements, and natural killer cells. Better understanding of protective mechanisms by immune responses induced by M2e vaccination will help facilitate development of broadly cross protective vaccines against influenza A virus.

Keyword

Influenza virus; M2e; Universal vaccine; Immune mechanism

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
B-Lymphocytes
Complement System Proteins
Cross Protection
Disease Outbreaks
Hemagglutinins
Influenza A virus
Influenza Vaccines
Influenza, Human*
Killer Cells, Natural
Macrophages, Alveolar
Membrane Glycoproteins
Orthomyxoviridae*
Pandemics
Receptors, Fc
T-Lymphocytes
Vaccination
Vaccines*
Antibodies
Complement System Proteins
Hemagglutinins
Influenza Vaccines
Membrane Glycoproteins
Receptors, Fc
Vaccines

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