tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Virol
. 2023 Mar 8.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.28642. Online ahead of print.
Pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2 associates with strong T cell responses induced by inactivated COVID-19 vaccines
Xuan Yi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuhao Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Quanrun Li[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xiaoyi Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Panli Zhang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Xin Fu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shuqin Gu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daqian Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiaoyi Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Haonan Lou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuemei Wu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Libo Tang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jinlin Hou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yongyin Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Individuals with a recent common cold coronavirus infection, which leads to pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2, displayed a less severe course of COVID-19. However, the relationship between pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and the inactivated-vaccine-induced immune response is still unknown. Here, thirty-one healthcare workers who received standard two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (week 0 and 4, respectively) were enrolled, vaccine-induced neutralization and T cell responses were detected, and the correlation between the pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity was analyzed. We found the SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, pVNT titers, and spike-specific IFN-γ production in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells were significantly elevated after two doses of inactivated vaccines. Interestingly, the pVNT titers after the second dose of vaccination displayed no significant correlation with the pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies or B cells, nor the pre-existing spike-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells. Notably, the spike-specific T cell response after the second dose of vaccination was positively correlated with the pre-existing RBD-specific B cells and CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells, which were documented by the frequencies of RBD-binding B cells, the breadth of RBD-specific B cell epitopes, and the frequency of IFN-γ-expressing RBD-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells. Overall, the inactivated-vaccine-induced T cell responses, not the inactivated-vaccine-induced neutralization, closely correlated with pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Our results provide a better understanding of inactivated-vaccine-induced immunity and help predict the immunogenicity induced by inactivated vaccines in individuals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; T cell immunity; inactivated COVID-19 vaccine; neutralization antibody; pre-existing immunity.
. 2023 Mar 8.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.28642. Online ahead of print.
Pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2 associates with strong T cell responses induced by inactivated COVID-19 vaccines
Xuan Yi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuhao Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Quanrun Li[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Xiaoyi Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Panli Zhang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Xin Fu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shuqin Gu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daqian Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiaoyi Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Haonan Lou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuemei Wu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Libo Tang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jinlin Hou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yongyin Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36890630
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28642
Abstract
Individuals with a recent common cold coronavirus infection, which leads to pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2, displayed a less severe course of COVID-19. However, the relationship between pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and the inactivated-vaccine-induced immune response is still unknown. Here, thirty-one healthcare workers who received standard two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (week 0 and 4, respectively) were enrolled, vaccine-induced neutralization and T cell responses were detected, and the correlation between the pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity was analyzed. We found the SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, pVNT titers, and spike-specific IFN-γ production in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells were significantly elevated after two doses of inactivated vaccines. Interestingly, the pVNT titers after the second dose of vaccination displayed no significant correlation with the pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies or B cells, nor the pre-existing spike-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells. Notably, the spike-specific T cell response after the second dose of vaccination was positively correlated with the pre-existing RBD-specific B cells and CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells, which were documented by the frequencies of RBD-binding B cells, the breadth of RBD-specific B cell epitopes, and the frequency of IFN-γ-expressing RBD-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells. Overall, the inactivated-vaccine-induced T cell responses, not the inactivated-vaccine-induced neutralization, closely correlated with pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Our results provide a better understanding of inactivated-vaccine-induced immunity and help predict the immunogenicity induced by inactivated vaccines in individuals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; T cell immunity; inactivated COVID-19 vaccine; neutralization antibody; pre-existing immunity.