Durability of humoral and cell-mediated immune response after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine administration

Abstract

Vaccination against the SARS-Cov-2 virus is an effective way to protect against the disease and the severe course of COVID-19. Forty-nine fully vaccinated with mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) SARS-CoV-2 infection-naïve volunteers aged 33-89 were enrolled in the study. Evaluation of the cellular and humoral immune response was performed within 1 to 3 months (T1) and 6-9 months (T2) after the second injection, and within 2-3 months (T3) after a booster dose. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the specific immune status was made between two age groups-below 60 (n = 22) and over 60 (n = 27) years. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell response was evaluated by IFN-γ-producing spot forming cells (SFCs) using a standardized ELISPOT assay. Virus neutralizing antibodies (VNA) against SARS-CoV-2 were measured by a blocking ELISA test and spike protein specific IgG (S-IgG) and IgA (S-IgA) antibodies-by semiquantitative ELISA. IFN-γ-producing SFCs, S-IgG, S-IgA and VNA significantly decreased 6-9 months after the second dose. After the third injection S-IgG and S-IgA markedly increased compared to T2 and reached the levels at T1. Of note, the highest values of VNA were observed at T3. No differences in the tested immune parameters were found between the two age groups. Data obtained showed that for a long period-6-9 months after a full course of immunization with mRNA vaccine, immune reactivity is present, but both cellular and humoral immune responses gradually decrease. The administration of a third dose mainly restores the specific humoral immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Keywords: booster dose; humoral and cell-mediated immune response; mRNA SARS CoV-2 vaccines.

Figure 1

Comparison of the cellular and humoral immunity up to 3 months (T1) and 6–9 months (T2) after the second vaccine dose. (A) SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific T‐cell immune reactivity presented as SFCs/10⁶ PBMCs. (B) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgG levels presented as ratio. (C) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgA levels presented as ratio. (D) Total neutralizing antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2 presented as percentage of inhibition. PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SFCs, spot forming cells.

Figure 2

Kinetics of the cellular and humoral immunity in 19 individuals up to 3 months (T1) and 6–9 months (T2) after the second vaccine dose. (A) SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific T‐cell immune reactivity presented as SFCs/10⁶ PBMCs. (B) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgG levels presented as ratio. (C) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgA levels presented as ratio. (D) Total neutralizing antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2 presented as percentage of inhibition. PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SFCs, spot forming cells.

Figure 3

Comparison of the cellular and humoral immunity up to 3 months (T1) and 6–9 months (T2) after the second vaccine dose, and 2–3 months after the booster dose (T3). (A) SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific T‐cell immune reactivity presented as SFCs/10⁶ PBMCs. (B) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgG levels presented as ratio. (C) Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S1 IgA levels presented as ratio. (D) Total neutralizing antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2 presented as percentage of inhibition. PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SFCs, spot forming cells.