Robust γδ+ T cell expansion in infants immunized at birth with BCG vaccine

Cell-mediated immune responses to BCG vaccine were evaluated in 7-month-old infants vaccinated with intradermal combined BCG and Hepatitis B or intradermal BCG and intramuscular Hepatitis B at birth. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from both groups showed CD4+, CD8+ and remarkable γδ+ T cell BCG-specific proliferation, without significant differences. Also, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α concentrations in culture supernatants, measured by ELISA, were similar. The results suggested that the combined BCG and Hepatitis B vaccine was as immunogenic as BCG separated from Hepatitis B vaccine.