Sunday, August 14, 2022
No Result
View All Result
Medical Finance
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Mediknowledge
  • Insights From Industry
  • Thought Leaders
  • Coronavirus
  • Whitepapers
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Mediknowledge
  • Insights From Industry
  • Thought Leaders
  • Coronavirus
  • Whitepapers
No Result
View All Result
Medical Finance
No Result
View All Result
Home Coronavirus

Immunological factors associated with impaired BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response in older adults

by Medical Finance
in Coronavirus
Study: Innate and adaptive immune defects associated with lower SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response in elderly people. Image Credit: Droneandy / Shutterstock
10
SHARES
111
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Immune aging is a phenomenon strengthened by the multifaceted remodeling of both innate and adaptive immunity. This includes lower antigen responses, decreased memory T cell response as well as a persistent chronic inflammation. Furthermore, immune aging also leads to more severe consequences of viral infection and lower protection post-vaccination.

Study: Innate and adaptive immune defects associated with lower SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response in elderly people. Image Credit: Droneandy / Shutterstock

Study: Innate and adaptive immune defects associated with lower SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response in elderly people. Image Credit: Droneandy / Shutterstock

The severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that is the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is known to have a more significant impact on older adults leading to higher mortality, increased hospitalizations, prolonged disease, and delayed viral clearance.

Currently, vaccination is the most effective precautionary measure for the severe symptomatology caused by SARS-CoV-2, especially for the elderly population. The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Biotech/Pfizer) has been shown to have high safety and efficacy against serious SARS-CoV-2 infections. Double doses of this vaccine induced a robust humoral response due to the production of neutralizing antibodies. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 S-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses have also been observed following vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine.

Although the BNT162b2 vaccine was found to be quite effective, lower effectiveness was observed in the case of older adults infected by

SARS-CoV-2. Several studies have also shown lower levels of neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated older adults, especially six months post the second dose. Also, more inadequate S-specific T cell responses have been observed in the case of vaccinated elderly individuals.

A new study posted to the pre-print server medRxiv* investigated the significant immune alterations concerning SARS-CoV-2 specific innate and adaptive immunity associated with a lower BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response in older individuals.

About the study

The study involved a total of 54 participants who were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Participants were excluded if they were diagnosed with dementia, had active infections, or were hospitalized during the last six months before the study. In addition, participants with a positive SARS-CoV-2 specific PCR test and those with detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before vaccination were also excluded from the study. The participants taking part in the study were categorized into young (less than 60 years) and old (60 years or above) subjects.

Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients from February to November 2021. The innate and adaptive immunity was studied at three-time points, before the administration of the first dose (PRE), three weeks after the first dose, just before the administration of the second dose (1D), and two months after the second dose (2D).

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the participant’s blood and used to analyze the SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response, monocytes stimulation, myeloid dendritic cells stimulation, and quantification of IFN-α production. Multiparametric flow cytometry was carried out for ex vivo phenotyping and functional assays followed by quantification of anti-RBD IgG SARS-CoV-2 levels. Finally, DNA was extracted from the PBMCs and sj/β TREC was measured using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).

Study findings

The results indicated no significant differences in the production of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG levels after administration of the vaccine were observed in young and old subjects. However, an inverse relationship between anti-RBD IgG levels and age was observed after the administration of the first dose as compared to the second dose.

SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG levels are inversely associated with age (A) Anti-RBD IgG levels (Binding Antibody Units (BAU)/mL) in old and young participants before SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (PRE), three weeks after the first dose (1D) and two months after the second dose (2D). (B and C) Correlation of anti-RBD IgG levels with age in all the study participants (B) and only in young group (C) after the first dose (left panels) and after the second dose (right panels).

SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG levels are inversely associated with age (A) Anti-RBD IgG levels (Binding Antibody Units (BAU)/mL) in old and young participants before SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (PRE), three weeks after the first dose (1D) and two months after the second dose (2D). (B and C) Correlation of anti-RBD IgG levels with age in all the study participants (B) and only in young group (C) after the first dose (left panels) and after the second dose (right panels).

The results reported that three weeks following vaccination with the first dose, CD4+ T cells produced interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as well as low levels of the degranulation marker CD107a, perforin (PRF), and interleukin (IL)-2. However, lower SARS-CoV-2 S-specific IFN-γ production and the cytotoxic response were observed in older adults post-vaccination. A similar observation was reported concerning CD8+ T cell response in older adults. Moreover, a low polyfunctional memory CD4+ T cell response was observed in older people compared to younger ones.

The results also indicated lower levels of thymic function in older adults as compared to young individuals. Decreased thymic function leads to memory inflation that alters the proportion of the naïve and memory T cells. Additionally, due to lower thymic function and high memory inflation, high levels of T cell homeostatic proliferation and activation were observed in older individuals. Vaccination also increased the expression of the immune checkpoints on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in young individuals as compared to the older ones. Also, higher CD161+ T cell levels were observed in young people as compared to the senior participants.

Furthermore, a decrease in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) two months after administering the second dose of the vaccine was observed. Upon stimulation of pDCs, lower levels of IFNα production were observed in the case of older adults as compared to young ones after both doses of vaccine. Characterization of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) including CD1c+, CD16+ and CD141+ mDCs was also carried out. Higher levels of CD16+ and CD1c+ were observed in young people as compared to the older adults while no difference in the level of CD141+ was observed for both groups.

Finally, the results also reported an increase in the expression of activation markers in classical and intermediate monocytes upon vaccination in young people as compared to older participants. A decrease in classical monocytes following two vaccine doses has been observed only in older participants. Also, upon LPS stimulation, older people were found to produce higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, participants who did not show a cytotoxic SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response (PRF-) were observed to produce higher levels of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes post-vaccination.

Therefore, the current study demonstrates the age-related immune deficits that exist in older adults. Furthermore, the results of the study provide a better understanding of why the vaccine responsiveness against SARS-CoV-2 is lower in older individuals, which can help in the improvement of current vaccination strategies as well as help to develop more efficient prototypes for the general population.

Limitations

The study had certain limitations. First, the sample size for the study was small. Second, a longer follow-up could be helpful in the determination of the impact of vaccination. Finally, a response against only the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was included in the study.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Medical Finance

Medical Finance

Related Posts

Study: Site Density Functional Theory and Structural Bioinformatics Analysis of the SARS-CoV Spike Protein and hACE2 Complex. Image Credit: Juan Gaertner/Shutterstock

Binding and conformational properties of the SARS-CoV spike protein and hACE2 complex

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the normal functioning of society, business, and education while taking a grievous...

Study: Breakthrough infections with the omicron and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 result in similar re-activation of vaccine-induced immunity. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Vaccine-induced immunological memory is similar for Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

A new study by Norwegian researchers suggests that vaccine-induced immunological memory and the activation of recall responses in the body...

Study: Defining the Substrate Envelope of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease to Predict and Avoid Drug Resistance. Image Credit: Mark Umbrella/Shutterstock

A substrate envelope approach to examine drug resistance potential of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

A team of scientists from the United States has recently defined the substrate envelop of the main protease of severe...

Study: Perioperative Complications of Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Neurosurgery. Image Credit: Terelyuk/Shutterstock

Patients undergoing neurosurgical operations with concomitant COVID-19 infection have higher rates of perioperative complications

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), spread rapidly over the...

Study: Rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is associated with an infection advantage over Delta in vaccinated persons. Image Credit: DOERS / Shutterstock.com

Escape from vaccine-induced immunity likely contributed to rapid rise of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

In a recent study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigate whether the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2...

Study: Vaccine hesitancy and access to psoriasis care in the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a global patient-reported cross-sectional survey. Image Credit: Fuss Sergey/Shutterstock.com

Study explores factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in individuals with psoriasis

by Medical Finance
August 14, 2022
0

About 40% of people living with psoriasis have had delays to psoriasis treatment and care from the COVID-19 pandemic, according...

Next Post
Long-term exposure to air pollutants may increase the incidence of COVID-19

Long-term exposure to air pollutants may increase the incidence of COVID-19

Providing recombinant antibody services and more within Europe

Providing recombinant antibody services and more within Europe

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Support

  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms And Conditions

Categories

  • Coronavirus
  • Insights From Industry
  • Interviews
  • Mediknowledge
  • News
  • Thought Leaders
  • Whitepapers

More News

  • Chromosome 620x480
    Scientists publish a robust framework to analyze chromosomal instability in human cancers
  • Study: Innate immunity: the first line of defense against SARS-CoV-2. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock
    Innate immune processes involved in SARS-CoV-2 recognition and resultant inflammation
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms And Conditions

© 2022 Medical Finance - Latest Financial and Business News

No Result
View All Result
  • Interviews
  • Mediknowledge
  • News
  • Insights From Industry
  • Coronavirus
  • Thought Leaders
  • Whitepapers
wpDiscuz
0
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply