17[beta]-Estradiol restores antibody responses to an influenza vaccine in a postmenopausal mouse model

Post-menopausal women belong to an age group that is highly susceptible to influenza infection and its most serious complications. However, data on the immunogenicity of influenza vaccines in these women is limited. Therefore, the antibody response to influenza vaccination was assessed in a postmenopausal mouse model. An inactivated-detergent-split vaccine from the A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) influenza virus strain was given to three groups of mice: ovariectomized (OVEX), OVEX with 17β-estradiol replacement (OVEX+E2), and sham-OVEX. The OVEX+E2 group produced influenza virus-specific serum antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies, at significantly higher levels (p