Interferon-induced activation of dendritic cells and monocytes by yellow fever vaccination correlates with early antibody responses

E Elena Winheim (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) A Antonio Santos-Peral (Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München) T Tamara Ehm (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) L Linus Rinke (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) S Sandra Riemer (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) M Magdalena Zaucha (Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München) S Sebastian Goresch (Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München) L Lisa Lehmann (Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München) K Katharina Eisenächer (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) M Michael Pritsch (Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU) G Giovanna Barba-Spaeth T Tobias Straub (Core Facility Bioinformatics, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU) S Simon Rothenfusser (Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München) A Anne B. Krug (Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU)

Abstract

Yellow fever vaccination provides long-lasting protection and is a unique model for studying the immune response to an acute RNA virus infection in humans. To elucidate the early innate immune events preceding the rapid generation of protective immunity, we performed transcriptome analysis of human blood dendritic cell (DC) and monocyte subpopulations before and 3, 7, 14, and 28 d after vaccination. We detected temporary upregulation of IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in all DC and monocyte subsets on days 3 and 7 after vaccination as well as cell type–specific responses and response kinetics. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed rapid appearance of activated DC and monocyte clusters dominated by ISGs, inflammatory chemokines, and genes involved in antigen processing and presentation. This was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis in a large cohort of vaccinees. We identified SIGLEC1/CD169 upregulation as a sensitive indicator of the transient IFN-induced activation state elicited in DCs and monocytes by YF17D vaccination correlating with early protective IgM antibody responses.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 19
Published May 13, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (14)

E

Elena Winheim

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

A

Antonio Santos-Peral

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München

T

Tamara Ehm

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

L

Linus Rinke

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

S

Sandra Riemer

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

M

Magdalena Zaucha

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München

S

Sebastian Goresch

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München

L

Lisa Lehmann

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München

K

Katharina Eisenächer

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

M

Michael Pritsch

Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU

G

Giovanna Barba-Spaeth

T

Tobias Straub

Core Facility Bioinformatics, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU

S

Simon Rothenfusser

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität München

A

Anne B. Krug

Institute for Immunology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU