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Watschinger C, Stampfel G, Zollner A, Hoog AM, Rössler A, Reiter S, Dax K, Kimpel J, Tilg H, Antlanger M, Schwaiger E, Moschen AR. B and T Cell Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients with and without Previous COVID-19. Viruses 2023; 16:1. [PMID: 38275936 PMCID: PMC10820906 DOI: 10.3390/v16010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Vulnerable populations including transplant recipients are jeopardised by COVID-19. Herein, we report on B and T cell responses among liver and kidney organ recipients at our centre. (2) Methods: 23 liver and 45 kidney (14 thereof combined kidney/pancreas) transplanted patients were vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 followed by a booster dose of mRNA-1273 in 28 non-responders 4 months thereafter. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Ig was measured by specific ELISA and virus neutralisation assay; T cell responses were measured by a spike protein-specific IFN-γ release assay. (3) Results: Compared to controls, B and T cell responses were weak in transplant recipients, particularly in those without prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Within this group, only 15% after the first and 58.3% after the second vaccination achieved seroconversion. A total of 14 out of 28 vaccination non-responders achieved a seroconversion after a third dose. Vaccination side effects were more frequent in healthy controls. The use of mycophenolate was associated with reduced anti-SARS-CoV-2-Ig production. (4) Conclusions: Our data confirm that vaccination responses are insufficient after standard vaccination in liver and kidney transplant recipients and are affected to a variable degree by specific immunosuppressants, particularly mycophenolate. Monitoring vaccination success and re-vaccinating those who are unresponsive seems prudent to achieve sufficient titres. Overall, prospective large-scale, multinational, multicentre studies or high-quality meta-analyses will be needed to generate personalised vaccination strategies in order to achieve protective immunity in high-risk, hard-to-immunize populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Watschinger
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Stampfel
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Andreas Zollner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
- Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine 1 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism), Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna M. Hoog
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Annika Rössler
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology, and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Silvia Reiter
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Kristina Dax
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Janine Kimpel
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology, and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine 1 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism), Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marlies Antlanger
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Schwaiger
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Brothers of Saint John of God Eisenstadt, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria
| | - Alexander R. Moschen
- Department of Internal Medicine 2 (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nephrology, Rheumatology), Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4021 Linz, Austria
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