Abstract
Background and Aim: The foreskin of the penis is a part of the mucosal immune system, an important first line of defense against antigens and infection. We tested cell culture derived from human foreskin tissues to observe the immunogenicity of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). The aim of this study is to use a novel in vitro cell culture model of human foreskin to assess LAIV in priming humoral as well as cellular immune responses. Also, to provide a new model that could be used to investigate the immunogenicity of the intranasal vaccines in foreskin tissue.

Methods: Foreskin samples (n=21) were obtained from infant boys who had undergone circumcision at Pediatric urology department in Madinah Children and Maternity Hospital, Saudi Arabia. The samples were collected within for weeks of time. No clinical conditions were found during the time of surgery for those who gave foreskin samples i.e., all were healthy. We isolated a single cell suspension from fresh foreskin tissues and measured the frequency of total T cell subsets (CD4 and CD8) using multiparameter flow cytometry. ELISA was also used to measure the antibody titrations in cell culture supernatants following stimulation.

Results: Significant higher antibody levels were detected) p <0.05(by ELISA following stimulation of foreskin mononuclear cells (MNCs) with LAIV when compared with unstimulated negative controls. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in total CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses) p <0.05( after stimulation with LAIV. Additionally, Interferon gamma) IFNγ (was also detected in a significant manner after LAIV stimulation.

Conclusions: Understanding mucosal immunity to respiratory tract infections such as influenza viruses may provide important support to the improvement of effective intranasal vaccines against other respiratory infections. LAIV is found to be immunogenic to trigger cellular and humoral immune response in MNCs derived from human foreskin.

Key words: Foreskin, Humoral Immunity, Cellular Immunity, Cell culture model LAIV