scholarly journals Coordinate Induction of Humoral and Spike Specific T-Cell Response in a Cohort of Italian Health Care Workers Receiving BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1315
Author(s):  
Chiara Agrati ◽  
Concetta Castilletti ◽  
Delia Goletti ◽  
Silvia Meschi ◽  
Alessandra Sacchi ◽  
...  

Vaccination is the main public health measure to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and hospitalization, and a massive worldwide scientific effort resulted in the rapid development of effective vaccines. This work aimed to define the dynamics of humoral and cell-mediated immune response in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs) who received a two-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination. The serological response was evaluated by quantifying the anti-RBD and neutralizing antibodies. The cell-mediated response was performed by a whole blood test quantifying Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2), produced in response to spike peptides. The BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine induced both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against spike peptides in virtually all HCWs without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a moderate inverse relation with age in the anti-RBD response. Spike-specific T cells produced several Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2), which correlated with the specific-serological response. Overall, our study describes the ability of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine to elicit a coordinated neutralizing humoral and spike-specific T cell response in HCWs. Assessing the dynamics of these parameters by an easy immune monitoring protocol can allow for the evaluation of the persistence of the vaccine response in order to define the optimal vaccination strategy.

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 778-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mardi C. Boer ◽  
Corine Prins ◽  
Krista E. van Meijgaarden ◽  
Jaap T. van Dissel ◽  
Tom H. M. Ottenhoff ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMycobacterium bovisbacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only currently available vaccine against tuberculosis, induces variable protection in adults. Immune correlates of protection are lacking, and analyses on cytokine-producing T cell subsets in protected versus unprotected cohorts have yielded inconsistent results. We studied the primary T cell response, both proinflammatory and regulatory T cell responses, induced by BCG vaccination in adults. Twelve healthy adult volunteers who were tuberculin skin test (TST) negative, QuantiFERON test (QFT) negative, and BCG naive were vaccinated with BCG and followed up prospectively. BCG vaccination induced an unexpectedly dichotomous immune response in this small, BCG-naive, young-adult cohort: BCG vaccination induced either gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ+) interleukin 2-positive (IL-2+) tumor necrosis factor α-positive (TNF-α+) polyfunctional CD4+T cells concurrent with CD4+IL-17A+and CD8+IFN-γ+T cells or, in contrast, virtually absent cytokine responses with induction of CD8+regulatory T cells. Significant induction of polyfunctional CD4+IFN-γ+IL-2+TNF-α+T cells and IFN-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was confined to individuals with strong immunization-induced local skin inflammation and increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Conversely, in individuals with mild inflammation, regulatory-like CD8+T cells were uniquely induced. Thus, BCG vaccination either induced a broad proinflammatory T cell response with local inflammatory reactogenicity or, in contrast, a predominant CD8+regulatory T cell response with mild local inflammation, poor cytokine induction, and absent polyfunctional CD4+T cells. Further detailed fine mapping of the heterogeneous host response to BCG vaccination using classical and nonclassical immune markers will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms and determinants that underlie the induction of apparently opposite immune responses and how these impact the ability of BCG to induce protective immunity to TB.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1763-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Leroux-Roels ◽  
Geert Leroux-Roels ◽  
Opokua Ofori-Anyinam ◽  
Philippe Moris ◽  
Els De Kock ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of illness and death worldwide, making a new TB vaccine an urgent public health priority. Purified protein derivative (PPD)-negative adults (n = 50) were equally randomized to receive 3 doses at 1-month intervals (at 0, 1, and 2 months) of one of the following vaccines: Mtb72F/AS02A (10 or 40 μg antigen), Mtb72F/saline (10 or 40 μg antigen), or AS02A. Mtb72F/AS02A recipients received an additional dose 1 year after the first dose to evaluate if the elicited immune response could be boosted. Mtb72F/AS02A vaccines were locally reactogenic but clinically well tolerated, with transient adverse events (usually lasting between 1 and 4 days) that resolved without sequelae being observed. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. Vaccination with Mtb72F/AS02A induced a strong Mtb72F-specific humoral response and a robust Mtb72F-specific CD4+ T-cell response, both of which persisted at 9 months after primary immunization and for 1 year after the booster immunization. There was no significant difference between the magnitude of the CD4+ T-cell response induced by the 10-μg and 40-μg Mtb72F/AS02A vaccines. The Mtb72F-specific CD4+ T cells predominantly expressed CD40L; CD40L and interleukin-2 (IL-2); CD40L and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); CD40L, IL-2, and TNF-α; and CD40L, IL-2, TNF-α, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Serum IFN-γ, but not TNF-α, was detected 1 day after doses 2 and 3 for the Mtb72F/AS02A vaccine but did not persist. Vaccine-induced CD8+ T-cell responses were not detected, and no immune responses were elicited with AS02A alone. In conclusion, Mtb72F/AS02A is clinically well tolerated and is highly immunogenic in TB-naïve adults. The 10- and 40-μg Mtb72F/AS02A vaccines show comparable safety and immunogenicity profiles.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013108
Author(s):  
Carla Tortorella ◽  
Alessandra Aiello ◽  
Claudio Gasperini ◽  
Chiara Agrati ◽  
Concetta Castilletti ◽  
...  

Objective:To evaluate the immune-specific response after the full SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with different Disease Modifying drugs by the detection of both serological- and T-cell responses.Methods:Health care workers (HCWs) and MS patients, having completed the two-dose schedule of an mRNA-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in the last 2-4 weeks, were enrolled from two parallel prospective studies conducted in Rome, Italy, at the National Institute for Infectious diseases Spallanzani–IRCSS and San Camillo Forlanini Hospital. Serological response was evaluated by quantifying the Region-Binding-Domain (RBD) and neutralizing-antibodies. Cell-mediated response was analyzed by a whole-blood test quantifying interferon (IFN)-γ response to spike peptides. Cells responding to spike stimulation were identified by FACS analysis.Results:We prospectively enrolled 186 vaccinated individuals: 78 HCWs and 108 MS patients. Twenty-eight MS patients were treated with IFN-β, 35 with fingolimod, 20 with cladribine, and 25 with ocrelizumab. A lower anti-RBD-antibody response rate was found in patients treated with ocrelizumab (40%, p<0.0001) and fingolimod (85.7%, p=0.0023) compared to HCWs and patients treated with cladribine or IFN-β. Anti-RBD-antibody median titer was lower in patients treated with ocrelizumab (p<0.0001), fingolimod (p<0.0001) and cladribine (p=0.010) compared to HCWs and IFN-β-treated patients. Importantly, serum neutralizing activity was present in all the HCWs tested and only in a minority of the fingolimod-treated patients (16.6%). T-cell-specific response was detected in the majority of MS patients (62%), albeit with significantly lower IFN-γ levels compared to HCWs. The lowest frequency of T-cell response was found in fingolimod-treated patients (14.3%). T-cell-specific response correlated with lymphocyte count and anti-RBD antibody titer (rho=0.554, p<0.0001 and rho=0.255, p=0.0078 respectively). Finally, IFN-γ T-cell response was mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.Conclusion:mRNA vaccines induce both humoral and cell-mediated specific immune responses against spike peptides in all HCWs and in the majority of MS patients. These results carry relevant implications for managing vaccinations suggesting to promote vaccination in all treated MS patients.Classification of Evidence:This study provides Class III data that COVID mRNA vaccination induces both humoral and cell-mediated specific immune responses against viral spike proteins in a majority of MS patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Picchianti-Diamanti ◽  
Alessandra Aiello ◽  
Bruno Laganà ◽  
Chiara Agrati ◽  
Concetta Castilletti ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, treated with different immunosuppressive therapies, the induction of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response after vaccination in terms of anti-region-binding-domain (RBD)-antibody- and T-cell-specific responses against spike, and the vaccine safety in terms of clinical impact on disease activity.MethodsHealth care workers (HCWs) and RA patients, having completed the BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination in the last 2 weeks, were enrolled. Serological response was evaluated by quantifying anti-RBD antibodies, while the cell-mediated response was evaluated by a whole-blood test quantifying the interferon (IFN)-γ-response to spike peptides. FACS analysis was performed to identify the cells responding to spike stimulation. RA disease activity was evaluated by clinical examination through the DAS28crp, and local and/or systemic clinical adverse events were registered. In RA patients, the ongoing therapeutic regimen was modified during the vaccination period according to the American College of Rheumatology indications.ResultsWe prospectively enrolled 167 HCWs and 35 RA patients. Anti-RBD-antibodies were detected in almost all patients (34/35, 97%), although the titer was significantly reduced in patients under CTLA-4-inhibitors (median: 465 BAU/mL, IQR: 103-1189, p&lt;0.001) or IL-6-inhibitors (median: 492 BAU/mL, IQR: 161-1007, p&lt;0.001) compared to HCWs (median: 2351 BAU/mL, IQR: 1389-3748). T-cell-specific response scored positive in most of RA patients [24/35, (69%)] with significantly lower IFN-γ levels in patients under biological therapy such as IL-6-inhibitors (median: 33.2 pg/mL, IQR: 6.1-73.9, p&lt;0.001), CTLA-4-inhibitors (median: 10.9 pg/mL, IQR: 3.7-36.7, p&lt;0.001), and TNF-α-inhibitors (median: 89.6 pg/mL, IQR: 17.8-224, p=0.002) compared to HCWs (median: 343 pg/mL, IQR: 188-756). A significant correlation between the anti-RBD-antibody titer and spike-IFN-γ-specific T-cell response was found in RA patients (rho=0.432, p=0.009). IFN-γ T-cell response was mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Finally, no significant increase in disease activity was found in RA patients following vaccination.ConclusionThis study showed for the first time that antibody-specific and whole-blood spike-specific T-cell responses induced by the COVID-19 mRNA-vaccine were present in the majority of RA patients, who underwent a strategy of temporary suspension of immunosuppressive treatment during vaccine administration. However, the magnitude of specific responses was dependent on the immunosuppressive therapy administered. In RA patients, BNT162b2 vaccine was safe and disease activity remained stable.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Martínez-Gallo ◽  
Juliana Esperalba-Esquerra ◽  
Ricardo Pujol-Borrell ◽  
Victor Sandá ◽  
Iria Arrese-Muñoz ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundClinical trials on the different vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 have demonstrated protection efficacy, but it is urgent to assess the levels of protection generated with real-world data, especially in individuals professionally exposed. Measuring T-cell responses may complement antibody tests currently in use as correlates of protection but there are not validated T cell response applicable to large number of samples.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of using T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 S peptides by commercially available whole blood interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) as a correlate of protection.PatientsTwenty health care workers before and after vaccination.MethodsAntibody test to SARS-CoV-2 N and S proteins in parallel with one IGRA assay and two detection techniques than can be automated.ResultsIGRA test detected T-cell responses in naturally exposed and vaccinated HCW already after first vaccination dose. the correlation by the two detection methods, CLIA and ELISA, very high (R>0.9) and sensitivity and specificity ranged between 100 and 86% and 100-73% respectively. Even though there was a very high concordance between antibody and the IGRA assay in the ability to detect immune response to SARS-CoV-2 there was a relatively low quantitative correlation. In the small group primed by natural infection, one vaccine dose was sufficient to reach immune response plateau. IGRA was positive in one Ig (S) antibody negative vaccinated immunosuppressed HCW illustrating another advantage of the IGRA test.ConclusionWhole blood IGRA tests amenable to automation, as the one here reported, constitute a promising additional tool for measuring the state of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2; they are applicable to large number of samples and may become valuable correlates of protection to COVID-19, particularly for vulnerable groups at risk of being re-exposed to infection, as are health care workers.Clinical ImplicationsCommercial kits of whole blood Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) constitute an reliable method for clinical laboratories to assess T-cell response after natural infection by SARS-CoV-2 and after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination and are suitable for large scale application.Key MessagesCommercial kits of whole blood interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) are potentially very useful tools to measure the T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 after COVID-19 and after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.One vaccine dose restores T cell response in COVID recovered patients, but the vaccination boost was required for naïve participants to attain a comparable response.T cell response seem to decay in COVID recovered subjects after the boost second vaccination dose.Capsule SummaryMeasuring T cell responses by commercially available whole blood interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) provide a promising additional correlate of protection to COVID and may be useful to reassure vulnerable group professionals at risk of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui-lin Shi ◽  
Jian-ping Zhang ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Jie Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for occupationally acquired Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis (TB) disease due to repeated exposure to workplace tubercle bacilli. To determine whether continual mycobacterial stimulation correlates with increased expression of inhibitory T cell receptors, here we compared PD-1 receptor expression on surfaces of circulating T cells between naïve (uninfected) HCWs and HCWs with latent TB infection (LTBI). Result Data collected from 133 medical workers who met study selection criteria were included in the final analysis. QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-​Tube (QFT-GIT) testing yielded positive results for 32 HCWs, for an overall LTBI rate of 24.1%. Multivariate analysis identified HCW length of service > 15 years as an independent risk factor for a positive QFT-GIT result. In addition, comparisons of blood T cell subgroup profiles between QFT- and QFT+ groups indicated QFT+ subjects possessed greater proportions of mature (TM), transitional memory (TTM) and effector memory (TEM) CD4+ T cell subgroups and lower proportions of naïve T cells (TN). Moreover, the QFT+ group percentage of CD8+ T cells with detectable surface PD-1 was significantly higher than the corresponding percentage for the QFT- group. Meanwhile, no statistical intergroup difference was observed in percentages of CD4+ T cells with detectible surface PD-1. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that upregulated PD-1 expression on circulating CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells, was associated with latent TB infection of HCWs. As compared to other hospitals, occupational TB infection risk in our hospital was substantially mitigated by implementation of multitiered infection control measures.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1315-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. S. Chan ◽  
Shih-Jen Liu ◽  
T. H. Cheung ◽  
Winnie Yeo ◽  
S. M. Ngai ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus type 58 (HPV-58) exists in a relatively high prevalence in certain parts of the world, including East Asia. This study examined the T-cell response to HPV-58 L1, E6, and E7 peptides among women with cleared infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or CIN3, or invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Peptides found to be reactive in the in vitro peptide binding assay or mouse-stimulating study were tested with a gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay to detect peptide-specific responses from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from 91 HPV-58-infected women (32 with cleared infection, 16 CIN2, 15 CIN3, and 28 ICC). Four HLA-A11-restricted HPV-58 L1 peptides, located at amino acid positions 296 to 304, 327 to 335, 101 to 109, and 469 to 477, showed positive IFN-γ ELISPOT results and were mainly from women with cleared infection. Two HLA-A11-restricted E6 peptides (amino acid positions 64 to 72 and 94 to 102) and three HLA-A11-restricted E7 peptides (amino acid positions 78 to 86, 74 to 82, and 88 to 96) showed a positive response. A response to E6 and E7 peptides was mainly observed from subjects with CIN2 or above. One HLA-A2-restricted E6 peptide, located at amino acid position 99 to 107, elicited a positive response in two CIN2 subjects. One HLA-A24-restricted L1 peptide, located at amino acid position 468 to 476, also elicited a positive response in two CIN2 subjects. In summary, this study has identified a few immunogenic epitopes for HPV-58 E6 and E7 proteins. It is worthwhile to further investigate whether responses to these epitopes have a role in clearing an established cervical lesion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh K. Bakshi ◽  
Kanupriya Gupta ◽  
Stephen J. Jordan ◽  
Xiaofei Chi ◽  
Shelly Y. Lensing ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bala Ramaswami ◽  
Iulia Popescu ◽  
Camila Macedo ◽  
Chunqing Luo ◽  
Ron Shapiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBK virus (BKV) nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis are increasingly recognized causes of disease in renal and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, respectively. Functional characterization of the immune response to BKV is important for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and vaccine design. A peptide mix (PepMix) and overlapping (OPP) or random (RPP) peptide pools derived from BKV large T antigen (LTA) were used to restimulate 14-day-expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 27 healthy control subjects in gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-specific enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. A T-cell response to LTA PepMix was detected in 15/27 subjects. A response was frequently observed with peptides derived from the helicase domain (9/15 subjects), while the DNA binding and host range domains were immunologically inert (0/15 subjects). For all nine subjects who responded to LTA peptide pools, the immune response could be explained largely by a 15-mer peptide designated P313. P313-specific CD4+T-cell clones demonstrated (i) stringent LTA peptide specificity; (ii) promiscuous recognition in the context of HLA-DR alleles; (iii) cross recognition of homologous peptides from the polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40); (iv) an effector memory phenotype, CD107a expression, and intracellular production of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); (v) cytotoxic activity in a chromium release assay; and (vi) the ability to directly present cognate antigen to autologous T cells. In conclusion, T-cell-mediated immunity to BKV in healthy subjects is associated with a polyfunctional population of CD4+T cells with dual T-helper and T-cytotoxic properties. HLA class II promiscuity in antigen presentation makes the targeted LTA peptide sequence a suitable candidate for inclusion in immunotherapy protocols.


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