Serum antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccine after splenic autotransplantation

Immunization with pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccines is advocated after splenectomy; however, experimental and clinical data suggest an impaired antibody response in splenectomized individuals. This study examined the value of splenic autotransplantation at various sites in augmenting the antibody response to Type III pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide in mice immunized 3 months after operation. Splenectomy resulted in impaired antibody responses compared to sham-operated mice (p less than 0.001) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mice with intraperitoneal splenic autotransplants, but not mice with subcutaneous or intramuscular transplants, had greater antibody responses compared to splenectomized mice (p less than 0.05). Antibody responses were elevated only in mice autotransplanted with 50% or more of the original splenic mass. Since autotransplantation of splenic tissue augments the antibody response to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides, the combination of splenic autotransplantation and pneumococcal vaccination may confer more protection than either modality alone in individuals who must undergo splenectomy.