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Review
. 2024 Apr 2;10(7):e29116.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29116. eCollection 2024 Apr 15.

Study of the cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Faustine Montmaneix-Engels  1   2 , Chloé Dimeglio  1   3 , Laeticia Staes  3 , Isabelle Da Silva  3 , Marion Porcheron  3 , Isabelle Jougla  4 , Fabrice Hérin  4   5 , Jacques Izopet  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Study of the cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Faustine Montmaneix-Engels et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Our understanding of cellular immunity in response to COVID-19 infection or vaccination is limited because of less commonly used techniques. We investigated both the cellular and humoral immune responses before and after the administration of a third dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among a group of healthcare workers. Cellular immunity was evaluated using the VIDAS interferon-gamma (IFNγ) RUO test, which enables automated measurement of IFNγ levels after stimulating peripheral blood lymphocytes. Booster doses significantly enhanced both cellular and humoral immunity. Concerning cellular response, the booster dose increased the percentage of positive IFNγ release assay (IGRA) results but no difference in IFNγ release was found. The cellular response was not associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, vaccinated and infected healthcare workers exhibited the highest levels of anti-spike and neutralizing antibodies. In conclusion, the IGRA is a simple method for measuring cellular immune responses after vaccination. However, its usefulness as a complement to the study of humoral responses is yet to be demonstrated in future research.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; Cellular immunity; Humoral immunity; Interferon gamma release assay; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Concentration of interferon gamma. Comparison of cellular response, expressed as IFNγ (IU/mL), in vaccinated uninfected (V) (N = 21) and infected HCWs (V + I) (N = 3) before and one month after the third dose vaccine. Horizontal bars indicate the median.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations. Comparison of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG serum antibody levels in vaccinated uninfected (V) (N = 34) and infected (V + I) (N = 6) HCWs before and after the third dose of the vaccine. Bars indicate median values, box boundaries represent IQRs, and whiskers indicate the maximum and minimum values.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Neutralizing antibody titers. Comparison of NAb titers in vaccinated uninfected (V) (N = 34) and infected (V + I) (N = 6) HCWs before and after the third dose of the vaccine. Bars indicate median values, box boundaries represent IQRs, and whiskers indicate the maximum and minimum values.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Neutralizing antibody titers and total anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibody concentrations. (A) Binding antibody concentrations according to NAb titers among vaccinated uninfected HCWs before the third dose and trend curve (red line). (B) Binding antibody concentrations according to NAb titers among vaccinated uninfected HCWs one month after the third dose and the trend curve (blue line). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)
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