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. 2024 May 28;14(1):12217.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62044-9.

PMMA dialyzers modulate both humoral and cell-mediate immune response to anti-COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in a cohort of chronic hemodialyzed patients

Giuseppe Castellano  1   2 , Giuseppe Stefano Netti  3 , Vincenzo Cantaluppi  4 , Vincenzo Losappio  5 , Federica Spadaccino  3 , Elena Ranieri  3 , Marita Marengo  6 , Maurizio Borzumati  7 , Carlo Alfieri  8   9 , Giovanni Stallone  5
Affiliations

PMMA dialyzers modulate both humoral and cell-mediate immune response to anti-COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in a cohort of chronic hemodialyzed patients

Giuseppe Castellano et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) have a high risk of death from COVID-19. We evaluated the humoral and cell-mediated immune response to BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in HD patients, comparing HD with Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and HD with Polysulphone (PS). Samples were collected before vaccination (T0) and 14-days after the 2ndvaccine (T2) in a TG (TG, n = 16-Foggia) and in a VG (CG, n = 36-Novara). Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Ig were titrated in the cohort 2-weeks after the 2nddose of vaccine. In the Testing-Group, serum neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were assayed and PBMCs isolated from patients were thawed, counted and stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 IGRA stimulation tube set. All patients had a positive ab-response, except in a case. PMMA-patients had higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (p = 0.031); VG data confirmed these findings (p < 0.05). NAb evaluation: PMMA patients passed the positive cut-off value, while in PS group only only 1/8 patient did not respond. PMMA patients showed higher percentages of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/RBD-Ig after a complete vaccine schedule (p = 0.028). Interferon-gamma release: PMMA patients showed significantly higher release of IFNγ (p = 0.014). The full vaccination course provided sufficient protection against SARS-CoV-2 across the entire cohort, regardless of dialyzer type. After vaccination, PMMA patients show a better immune response, both humoral and cellular, at the end of the vaccination course than PS patients.

Keywords: Cellular immunity; Hemodialysis patients; Humoral immunity; Poly-methyl-methacrylate; SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; Vaccine antibody response.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in the Testing Group. Detection of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG showing higher serum levels in patients treated with Adsorptive HD (AHD, n = 8), as compared to those treated with Standard HD (SHD, n = 8) (1755.0 IQR 864.3–2225.0 vs 566.0 IQR 237.8–704.0 BAU/mL, p = 0.031).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in the Testing Group. Detection of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/RBD Ig showing higher percentages in HD patients treated with Adsorptive HD (AHD, n = 8), as compared with those treated with Standard HD (SHD, n = 8) (97.3 IQR 90.2–97.8% vs 70.3 IQR 63.9–83.5%, p = 0.028). Data are shown as dots and whiskers (median and 95% CI).
Figure 3
Figure 3
S1/RDB-specific IFNγ release response after COVID-19 vaccine in the Testing Group. Release of IFNγ from PBMC stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 S1/RBD, showing higher titer in patients treated with Adsorptive HD (AHD, n = 8), as compared with these treated with Standard HD (SHD, n = 8) (84.8 IQR 68.7–103.8 vs 33.5 IQR 19.7–51.1 mUI/mL, p = 0.014).
Figure 4
Figure 4
S1/RDB-specific IFNγ release response after COVID-19 vaccine in the Testing Group. Release of IFNγ from PBMC stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 S1/RBD, showing higher ratio (IFNγ released after SARS-CoV-2-related S1/RBD specific stimulus/ IFNγ release after aspecific mitogen exposure) in HD patients treated with Adsorptive HD (AHD, n = 8), as compared HD patients treated with Standard HD (SHD, n = 8) (77.9 IQR 76.1–91.1% vs 32.2 IQR 17.8–52.0% , p < 0.001). Data are shown as dots and whiskers (median and 95% CI).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in the Validation Group. Detection of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG showing significantly higher serum levels in patients treated with Adsorptive HD (AHD, n = 18), as compared to those treated with Standard HD (SHD, n = 18) (4.9 IQR 3.5–6.9 vs 1.4 IQR 0.8–2.2 U/ml, p < 0.05). Data are shown as dots and whiskers (median and 95% CI).
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