Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Combination with Galacto- and Long-Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides Enhance Vaccination Efficacy in a Murine Influenza Vaccination Model

Abstract

Early-life nutrition significantly impacts vaccination efficacy in infants, whose immune response to vaccines is weaker compared to adults. This study investigated vaccination efficacy in female C57Bl/6JOlaHsd mice (6 weeks old) fed diets with 0.7% galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS) (9:1), 0.3% human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS), or a combination (GFH) for 14 days prior to and during vaccination. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was measured by assessing ear swelling following an intradermal challenge. Influvac-specific IgG1 and IgG2a levels were assessed using ELISAs, while splenic T and B lymphocytes were analyzed for frequency and activation via flow cytometry. Additionally, cytokine production was evaluated using murine splenocytes co-cultured with influenza-loaded dendritic cells. Mice on the GFH diet showed a significantly enhanced DTH response (p < 0.05), increased serological IgG1 levels, and a significant rise in memory B lymphocytes (CD27+ B220+ CD19+). GFH-fed mice also exhibited more activated splenic Th1 cells (CD69+ CXCR3+ CD4+) and higher IFN-γ production after ex vivo restimulation (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that GOS/lcFOS and HMOS, particularly in combination, enhance vaccine responses by improving memory B cells, IgG production, and Th1 cell activation, supporting the potential use of these prebiotics in infant formula for better early-life immune development.