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Zheng K, Chong AY, Mentzer AJ. How could our genetics impact COVID-19 vaccine response? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024; 20:1027-1039. [PMID: 38676712 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2024.2346584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has posed unprecedented global health challenges since its emergence in December 2019. The rapid availability of vaccines has been estimated to save millions of lives, but there is variation in how individuals respond to vaccines, influencing their effectiveness at an individual, and population level. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on human genetic factors influencing the immune response and effectiveness of vaccines, highlighting the importance of associations across the HLA locus. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and other genetic association analyses have identified statistically significant associations between specific HLA alleles including HLA-DRB1*13, DBQ1*06, and A*03 impacting antibody responses and the risk of breakthrough infections post-vaccination. Relationships between these associations and potential mechanisms and links with risks of natural infection or disease are explored, and this review concludes by emphasizing how understanding the mechanisms of these genetic determinants may inform the development of tailored vaccination strategies. EXPERT OPINION Although complex, we believe these findings from the SARS-CoV2 pandemic offer a unique opportunity to understand the relationships between HLA and infection and vaccine response, with a goal of optimizing individual protection against COVID-19 in the ongoing pandemic, and possibly influencing wider vaccine development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Zheng
- Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Amanda Y Chong
- Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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2
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Gutiérrez-Bautista JF, Sampedro A, Ballesta-Alcaraz L, Aguilera-Franco M, Olivares-Durán MJ, Cobo F, Reguera JA, Rodríguez-Granger J, Torres-Llamas A, Martín-Sánchez J, Aznar-Peralta I, Vilchez JR, López-Nevot MÁ, Sampedro-Martínez A. Analysis of HLA Alleles in Different Cohorts of Patients Infected by L. infantum from Southern Spain. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8205. [PMID: 39125781 PMCID: PMC11311343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which is endemic in certain areas of Europe, such as southern Spain. The disease manifests in various clinical phenotypes, including visceral, cutaneous, mucosal, or asymptomatic leishmaniasis. This diversity in clinical outcomes may be influenced by the host immune response, with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules playing a crucial role in determining susceptibility and progression of the infection. This study explores the association between specific HLA variants and Leishmania infantum infection. We recruited four cohorts: a control group, asymptomatic individuals, patients with symptomatic disease, and cohabitants of infected individuals. HLA typing was performed for all participants, followed by an association analysis with infection status and disease progression. Our findings indicate that the HLA-B*38 and HLA-C*03 alleles are associated with protection against L. infantum infection. These results contribute to a better understanding of the disease's progression, offer potential for new therapeutic approaches such as vaccines, and expand the existing knowledge in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Francisco Gutiérrez-Bautista
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (L.B.-A.); (M.J.O.-D.); (J.R.V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Antonio Sampedro
- Centro de Salud Zaidín Sur, Distrito Granada Metropolitano, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, 18007 Granada, Spain;
| | - Lucia Ballesta-Alcaraz
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (L.B.-A.); (M.J.O.-D.); (J.R.V.)
| | - María Aguilera-Franco
- Servicio de Microbiología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.A.-F.); (F.C.); (J.A.R.); (J.R.-G.)
| | - María José Olivares-Durán
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (L.B.-A.); (M.J.O.-D.); (J.R.V.)
| | - Fernando Cobo
- Servicio de Microbiología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.A.-F.); (F.C.); (J.A.R.); (J.R.-G.)
| | - Juan Antonio Reguera
- Servicio de Microbiología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.A.-F.); (F.C.); (J.A.R.); (J.R.-G.)
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Granger
- Servicio de Microbiología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.A.-F.); (F.C.); (J.A.R.); (J.R.-G.)
| | - Andrés Torres-Llamas
- Departamento de Parasitología, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (A.T.-L.); (J.M.-S.)
| | - Joaquina Martín-Sánchez
- Departamento de Parasitología, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (A.T.-L.); (J.M.-S.)
| | - Inés Aznar-Peralta
- GENYO Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer, University of Granada, Andalusian, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Jose Ramon Vilchez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (L.B.-A.); (M.J.O.-D.); (J.R.V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Miguel Ángel López-Nevot
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (L.B.-A.); (M.J.O.-D.); (J.R.V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Antonio Sampedro-Martínez
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Servicio de Microbiología, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.A.-F.); (F.C.); (J.A.R.); (J.R.-G.)
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Xie J, Mothe B, Alcalde Herraiz M, Li C, Xu Y, Jödicke AM, Gao Y, Wang Y, Feng S, Wei J, Chen Z, Hong S, Wu Y, Su B, Zheng X, Cohet C, Ali R, Wareham N, Alhambra DP. Relationship between HLA genetic variations, COVID-19 vaccine antibody response, and risk of breakthrough outcomes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4031. [PMID: 38740772 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48339-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The rapid global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, with over a billion doses administered, has been unprecedented. However, in comparison to most identified clinical determinants, the implications of individual genetic factors on antibody responses post-COVID-19 vaccination for breakthrough outcomes remain elusive. Here, we conducted a population-based study including 357,806 vaccinated participants with high-resolution HLA genotyping data, and a subset of 175,000 with antibody serology test results. We confirmed prior findings that single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antibody response are predominantly located in the Major Histocompatibility Complex region, with the expansive HLA-DQB1*06 gene alleles linked to improved antibody responses. However, our results did not support the claim that this mutation alone can significantly reduce COVID-19 risk in the general population. In addition, we discovered and validated six HLA alleles (A*03:01, C*16:01, DQA1*01:02, DQA1*01:01, DRB3*01:01, and DPB1*10:01) that independently influence antibody responses and demonstrated a combined effect across HLA genes on the risk of breakthrough COVID-19 outcomes. Lastly, we estimated that COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody positivity provides approximately 20% protection against infection and 50% protection against severity. These findings have immediate implications for functional studies on HLA molecules and can inform future personalised vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqing Xie
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz Mothe
- Infectious Diseases Department, IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Marta Alcalde Herraiz
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yu Xu
- Cambridge Baker Systems Genomics Initiative, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Annika M Jödicke
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yaqing Gao
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yunhe Wang
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shuo Feng
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jia Wei
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Zhuoyao Chen
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shenda Hong
- National Institute of Health Data Science, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yeda Wu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Binbin Su
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Catherine Cohet
- Real-World Evidence Workstream, Data Analytics and Methods Task Force, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Raghib Ali
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Public Health Research Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nick Wareham
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Prieto Alhambra
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Santos-Rebouças CB, Ferreira CDS, Nogueira JDS, Brustolini OJ, de Almeida LGP, Gerber AL, Guimarães APDC, Piergiorge RM, Struchiner CJ, Porto LC, de Vasconcelos ATR. Immune response stability to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster is influenced by differential splicing of HLA genes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8982. [PMID: 38637586 PMCID: PMC11026523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59259-1] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Many molecular mechanisms that lead to the host antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines remain largely unknown. In this study, we used serum antibody detection combined with whole blood RNA-based transcriptome analysis to investigate variability in vaccine response in healthy recipients of a booster (third) dose schedule of the mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against COVID-19. The cohort was divided into two groups: (1) low-stable individuals, with antibody concentration anti-SARS-CoV IgG S1 below 0.4 percentile at 180 days after boosting vaccination; and (2) high-stable individuals, with antibody values greater than 0.6 percentile of the range in the same period (median 9525 [185-80,000] AU/mL). Differential gene expression, expressed single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions, differential splicing events, and allelic imbalance were explored to broaden our understanding of the immune response sustenance. Our analysis revealed a differential expression of genes with immunological functions in individuals with low antibody titers, compared to those with higher antibody titers, underscoring the fundamental importance of the innate immune response for boosting immunity. Our findings also provide new insights into the determinants of the immune response variability to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster, highlighting the significance of differential splicing regulatory mechanisms, mainly concerning HLA alleles, in delineating vaccine immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cíntia Barros Santos-Rebouças
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristina Dos Santos Ferreira
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil
| | - Jeane de Souza Nogueira
- Histocompatibility and Cryopreservation Laboratory, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otávio José Brustolini
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil
| | - Luiz Gonzaga Paula de Almeida
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Lehmkuhl Gerber
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de Campos Guimarães
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil
| | - Rafael Mina Piergiorge
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudio José Struchiner
- School of Applied Mathematics, Getúlio Vargas Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Social Medicine Institute Hesio Cordeiro, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luís Cristóvão Porto
- Histocompatibility and Cryopreservation Laboratory, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos
- Bioinformatics Laboratory-LABINFO, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation LNCC/MCTIC, Getúlio Vargas, Av., 333, Quitandinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25651‑075, Brazil.
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5
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Laganà A, Visalli G, Di Pietro A, Facciolà A. Vaccinomics and adversomics: key elements for a personalized vaccinology. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2024; 13:105-120. [PMID: 38752004 PMCID: PMC11091437 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2024.13.2.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most important and effective tools in the prevention of infectious diseases and research about all the aspects of vaccinology are essential to increase the number of available vaccines more and more safe and effective. Despite the unquestionable value of vaccinations, vaccine hesitancy has spread worldwide compromising the success of vaccinations. Currently, the main purpose of vaccination campaigns is the immunization of whole populations with the same vaccine formulations and schedules for all individuals. A personalized vaccinology approach could improve modern vaccinology counteracting vaccine hesitancy and giving great benefits for human health. This ambitious purpose would be possible by facing and deepening the areas of vaccinomics and adversomics, two innovative areas of study investigating the role of a series of variables able to influence the immune response to vaccinations and the development of serious side effects, respectively. We reviewed the recent scientific knowledge about these innovative sciences focusing on genetic and non-genetic basis involved in the individual response to vaccines in terms of both immune response and side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Laganà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Istituto Clinico Polispecialistico C.O.T., Cure Ortopediche Traumatologiche S.P.A., Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Visalli
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Angela Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessio Facciolà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Vogrig A, Tartaglia S, Dentoni M, Fabris M, Bax F, Belluzzo M, Verriello L, Bagatto D, Gastaldi M, Tocco P, Zoccarato M, Zuliani L, Pilotto A, Padovani A, Villagrán-García M, Davy V, Gigli GL, Honnorat J, Valente M. Central nervous system immune-related disorders after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a multicenter study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1344184. [PMID: 38375477 PMCID: PMC10876052 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1344184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 vaccines have been approved due to their excellent safety and efficacy data and their use has also permitted to reduce neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2. However, clinical trials were underpowered to detect rare adverse events. Herein, the aim was to characterize the clinical spectrum and immunological features of central nervous system (CNS) immune-related events following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Methods Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study (December 1, 2020-April 30, 2022). Inclusion criteria were (1) de novo CNS disorders developing after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (probable causal relationship as per 2021 Butler criteria) (2); evidence for an immune-mediated etiology, as per (i) 2016 Graus criteria for autoimmune encephalitis (AE); (ii) 2015 Wingerchuk criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders; (iii) criteria for myelitis. Results Nineteen patients were included from 7 tertiary referral hospitals across Italy and France (one of them being a national referral center for AE), over almost 1 year and half of vaccination campaign. Vaccines administered were mRNA-based (63%) and adenovirus-vectored (37%). The median time between vaccination and symptoms onset was 14 days (range: 2-41 days). CSF was inflammatory in 74%; autoantibodies were detected in 5%. CSF cytokine analysis (n=3) revealed increased CXCL-10 (IP-10), suggesting robust T-cell activation. The patients had AE (58%), myelitis (21%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (16%), and brainstem encephalitis (5%). All patients but 2 received immunomodulatory treatment. At last follow-up (median 130 days; range: 32-540), only one patient (5%) had a mRS>2. Conclusion CNS adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination appear to be very rare even at reference centers and consist mostly of antibody-negative AE, myelitis, and ADEM developing approximately 2 weeks after vaccination. Most patients improve following immunomodulatory treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vogrig
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Sara Tartaglia
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Marta Dentoni
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Martina Fabris
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Bax
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Belluzzo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Verriello
- Neurology Unit, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Daniele Bagatto
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Unit of Neuroradiology, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Matteo Gastaldi
- Neuroimmunology Laboratory, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Tocco
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, “Spirito Santo” Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
| | - Marco Zoccarato
- UOC Neurologia O.S.A. - Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Luigi Zuliani
- Neurology Unit, AULSS8 Berica, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Andrea Pilotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia University Hospital, Brescia, Italy
- Laboratory of Digital Neurology and Biosensors, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia University Hospital, Brescia, Italy
- Laboratory of Digital Neurology and Biosensors, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Macarena Villagrán-García
- French Reference Centre for Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- MeLiS - UCBL-CNRS UMR 5284 - INSERM U1314, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Vincent Davy
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital Pitié Salpétrière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Gian Luigi Gigli
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- French Reference Centre for Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- MeLiS - UCBL-CNRS UMR 5284 - INSERM U1314, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Mariarosaria Valente
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head-Neck and Neuroscience, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
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7
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Lerner A, Benzvi C, Vojdani A. HLA-DQ2/8 and COVID-19 in Celiac Disease: Boon or Bane. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2977. [PMID: 38138121 PMCID: PMC10745744 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to pose a global threat. While its virulence has subsided, it has persisted due to the continual emergence of new mutations. Although many high-risk conditions related to COVID-19 have been identified, the understanding of protective factors remains limited. Intriguingly, epidemiological evidence suggests a low incidence of COVID-19-infected CD patients. The present study explores whether their genetic background, namely, the associated HLA-DQs, offers protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes. We hypothesize that the HLA-DQ2/8 alleles may shield CD patients from SARS-CoV-2 and its subsequent effects, possibly due to memory CD4 T cells primed by previous exposure to human-associated common cold coronaviruses (CCC) and higher affinity to those allele's groove. In this context, we examined potential cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 epitopes and human-associated CCC and assessed the binding affinity (BA) of these epitopes to HLA-DQ2/8. Using computational methods, we analyzed sequence similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and four distinct CCC. Of 924 unique immunodominant 15-mer epitopes with at least 67% identity, 37 exhibited significant BA to HLA-DQ2/8, suggesting a protective effect. We present various mechanisms that might explain the protective role of HLA-DQ2/8 in COVID-19-afflicted CD patients. If substantiated, these insights could enhance our understanding of the gene-environment enigma and viral-host relationship, guiding potential therapeutic innovations against the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Lerner
- The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262160, Israel;
- Research Department, Ariel University, Ariel 4077625, Israel
| | - Carina Benzvi
- The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262160, Israel;
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Farnsworth CW, O’Neil CA, Dalton C, McDonald D, Vogt L, Hock K, Arter O, Wallace MA, Muenks C, Amor M, Alvarado K, Peacock K, Jolani K, Fraser VJ, Burnham CAD, Babcock HM, Budge PJ, Kwon JH. Association between SARS-CoV-2 Symptoms, Ct Values, and Serological Response in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Healthcare Personnel. J Appl Lab Med 2023; 8:871-886. [PMID: 37478837 PMCID: PMC10482509 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective at reducing symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19. Limited studies have compared symptoms, threshold cycle (Ct) values from reverse transcription (RT)-PCR testing, and serological testing results between previously vaccinated vs unvaccinated populations with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS Healthcare personnel (HCP) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test within the previous 14 to 28 days completed surveys including questions about demographics, medical conditions, social factors, and symptoms of COVID-19. Ct values were observed, and serological testing was performed for anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) and anti-Spike (anti-S) antibodies at enrollment and 40 to 90 days later. Serological results were compared to HCP with no known SARS-CoV-2 infection and negative anti-N testing. RESULTS There were 104 unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated and 77 vaccinated HCP with 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine at time of infection. No differences in type or duration of symptoms were reported (P = 0.45). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) Ct was 21.4 (17.6-24.6) and 21.5 (18.1-24.6) for the unvaccinated and vaccinated HCP, respectively. Higher anti-N IgG was observed in unvaccinated HCP (5.08 S/CO, 3.08-6.92) than vaccinated (3.61 signal to cutoff ratio [S/CO], 2.16-5.05). Anti-S IgG was highest among vaccinated HCP with infection (34 285 aribitrary units [AU]/mL, 17 672-61 775), followed by vaccinated HCP with no prior infection (1452 AU/mL, 791-2943), then unvaccinated HCP with infection (829 AU/mL, 290-1555). Anti-S IgG decreased 1.56% (0.9%-1.79%) per day in unvaccinated and 0.38% (0.03%-0.94%) in vaccinated HCP. CONCLUSIONS Vaccinated HCP infected with SARS-CoV-2 reported comparable symptoms and had similar Ct values relative to unvaccinated. However, vaccinated HCP had increased and prolonged anti-S and decreased anti-N response relative to unvaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Farnsworth
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Caroline A O’Neil
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Claire Dalton
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - David McDonald
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Lucy Vogt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Karl Hock
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Olivia Arter
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Meghan A Wallace
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Carol Muenks
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Mostafa Amor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kelly Alvarado
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kate Peacock
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kevin Jolani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Victoria J Fraser
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Carey-Ann D Burnham
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Hilary M Babcock
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Phillip J Budge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jennie H Kwon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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9
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Čiučiulkaitė I, Siffert W, Elsner C, Dittmer U, Wichert M, Wagner B, Volbracht L, Mosel F, Möhlendick B. Influence of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms rs12252 and rs34481144 in IFITM3 on the Antibody Response after Vaccination against COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1257. [PMID: 37515072 PMCID: PMC10384856 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine approved for human administration by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. Studies have shown that the immune response and the decay of immunity after vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccines are variable within a population. Host genetic factors probably contribute to this variability. In this study, we investigated the effect of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs12252 and rs34481144 in the interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM) 3 gene on the humoral immune response after vaccination against COVID-19 with mRNA vaccines. Blood samples were collected from 1893 healthcare workers and medical students at multiple time points post-vaccination and antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein receptor binding domain were determined at all time points. All participants were genotyped for the rs34481144 and rs12252 polymorphisms in the IFITM3 gene. After the second and third vaccinations, antibody titer levels increased at one month and decreased at six months (p < 0.0001) and were higher after the booster vaccination than after the basic immunization (p < 0.0001). Participants vaccinated with mRNA-1273 had a higher humoral immune response than participants vaccinated with BNT162b2. rs12252 had no effect on the antibody response. In contrast, carriers of the GG genotype in rs34481144 vaccinated with BNT162b2 had a lower humoral immune response compared to A allele carriers, which reached statistical significance on the day of the second vaccination (p = 0.03) and one month after the second vaccination (p = 0.04). Further studies on the influence of rs12252 and rs34481144 on the humoral immune response after vaccination against COVID-19 are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Čiučiulkaitė
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Winfried Siffert
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Carina Elsner
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Marc Wichert
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wagner
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Lothar Volbracht
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Frank Mosel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Birte Möhlendick
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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10
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Yazdanparast S, Bakhtiyaridovvombaygi M, Mikanik F, Ahmadi R, Ghorbani M, Mansoorian MR, Mansoorian M, Chegni H, Moshari J, Gharehbaghian A. Spotlight on contributory role of host immunogenetic profiling in SARS-CoV-2 infection: Susceptibility, severity, mortality, and vaccine effectiveness. Life Sci 2023:121907. [PMID: 37394094 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread continuously worldwide, characterized by various clinical symptoms. The immune system responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection by producing Abs and secreting cytokines. Recently, numerous studies have highlighted that immunogenetic factors perform a putative role in COVID-19 pathogenesis and implicate vaccination effectiveness. AIM This review summarizes the relevant articles and evaluates the significance of mutation and polymorphism in immune-related genes regarding susceptibility, severity, mortality, and vaccination effectiveness of COVID-19. Furthermore, the correlation between host immunogenetic and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection is discussed. METHOD A comprehensive search was conducted to identify relevant articles using five databases until January 2023, which resulted in 105 total articles. KEY FINDINGS Taken to gather this review summarized that: (a) there is a plausible correlation between immune-related genes and COVID-19 outcomes, (b) the HLAs, cytokines, chemokines, and other immune-related genes expression profiles can be a prognostic factor in COVID-19-infected patients, and (c) polymorphisms in immune-related genes have been associated with the effectiveness of vaccination. SIGNIFICANCE Regarding the importance of mutation and polymorphisms in immune-related genes in COVID-19 outcomes, modulating candidate genes is expected to help clinical decisions, patient outcomes management, and innovative therapeutic approach development. In addition, the manipulation of host immunogenetics is hypothesized to induce more robust cellular and humoral immune responses, effectively increase the efficacy of vaccines, and subsequently reduce the incidence rates of reinfection-associated COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Yazdanparast
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bakhtiyaridovvombaygi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mikanik
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Reza Ahmadi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghorbani
- Laboratory Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Faculty Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
| | | | - Mozhgan Mansoorian
- Nursing Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Hamid Chegni
- Department of Immunology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jalil Moshari
- School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Science, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Ahmad Gharehbaghian
- Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, School of Allied Medical Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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11
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Talotta R. Molecular Mimicry and HLA Polymorphisms May Drive Autoimmunity in Recipients of the BNT-162b2 mRNA Vaccine: A Computational Analysis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1686. [PMID: 37512859 PMCID: PMC10384367 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the start of the worldwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, there were increased reports of autoimmune diseases occurring de novo after vaccination. This in silico analysis aimed to investigate the presence of protein epitopes encoded by the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine, one of the most widely administered COVID-19 vaccines, which could induce autoimmunity in predisposed individuals. METHODS The FASTA sequence of the protein encoded by the BNT-162b2 vaccine served as the key input to the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource. Linear peptides with 90% BLAST homology were selected, and T-cell, B-cell, and MHC-ligand assays without MHC restriction were searched and analyzed. HLA disease associations were screened on the HLA-SPREAD platform by selecting only positive markers. RESULTS By 7 May 2023, a total of 5693 epitopes corresponding to 21 viral but also human proteins were found. The latter included CHL1, ENTPD1, MEAF6, SLC35G2, and ZFHX2. Importantly, some autoepitopes may be presented by HLA alleles positively associated with various immunological diseases. CONCLUSIONS The protein product of the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine contains immunogenic epitopes that may trigger autoimmune phenomena in predisposed individuals through a molecular mimicry mechanism. Genotyping for HLA alleles may help identify individuals at risk. However, further wet-lab studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Talotta
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "G. Martino", 98124 Messina, Italy
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12
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Wolday D, Fung CYJ, Morgan G, Casalino S, Frangione E, Taher J, Lerner-Ellis JP. HLA Variation and SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibody Response. Viruses 2023; 15:906. [PMID: 37112884 PMCID: PMC10143129 DOI: 10.3390/v15040906] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses have been observed between individuals following natural infection or vaccination. In addition to already known factors, such as age, sex, COVID-19 severity, comorbidity, vaccination status, hybrid immunity, and duration of infection, inter-individual variations in SARS-CoV-2 immune responses may, in part, be explained by structural differences brought about by genetic variation in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules responsible for the presentation of SARS-CoV-2 antigens to T effector cells. While dendritic cells present peptides with HLA class I molecules to CD8+ T cells to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses (CTLs), they present peptides with HLA class II molecules to T follicular helper cells to induce B cell differentiation followed by memory B cell and plasma cell maturation. Plasma cells then produce SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Here, we review published data linking HLA genetic variation or polymorphisms with differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses. While there is evidence that heterogeneity in antibody response might be related to HLA variation, there are conflicting findings due in part to differences in study designs. We provide insight into why more research is needed in this area. Elucidating the genetic basis of variability in the SARS-CoV-2 immune response will help to optimize diagnostic tools and lead to the development of new vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawit Wolday
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Chun Yiu Jordan Fung
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Gregory Morgan
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Selina Casalino
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Erika Frangione
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Jennifer Taher
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
| | - Jordan P. Lerner-Ellis
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada; (C.Y.J.F.); (G.M.); (S.C.); (E.F.); (J.T.)
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada
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13
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Yiang GT, Wu CC, Lu CL, Hu WC, Tsai YJ, Huang YM, Su WL, Lu KC. Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Elderly Patients with COVID-19: Potential of Melatonin Treatment. Viruses 2023; 15:156. [PMID: 36680196 PMCID: PMC9863214 DOI: 10.3390/v15010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging processes, including immunosenescence, inflammation, inflammasome formation, genomic instability, telomeric attrition, and altered autophagy, are involved in viral infections and they may contribute to increased pathophysiological responses to the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the elderly; this poses additional risks of accelerated aging, which could be found even after recovery. Aging is associated with oxidative damage. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infections may increase the production of reactive oxygen species and such infections will disturb the Ca++ balance via an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response. Although vaccine development and anti-inflammation therapy lower the severity of COVID-19, the prevalence and mortality rates are still alarming in some countries worldwide. In this review, we describe the involvement of viral proteins in activating ER stress transducers and their downstream signals and in inducing inflammation and inflammasome formation. Furthermore, we propose the potential of melatonin as an ER stress modulator, owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory effects in viral infections. Considering its strong safety profile, we suggest that additive melatonin supplementation in the elderly could be beneficial in treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giou-Teng Yiang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chao Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
- Department and Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Lin Lu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 24352, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chung Hu
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ju Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 243, Taiwan
| | - Yiao-Mien Huang
- Department of Dentistry, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Lin Su
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Cheng Lu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 24352, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan
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14
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Čiučiulkaitė I, Möhlendick B, Thümmler L, Fisenkci N, Elsner C, Dittmer U, Siffert W, Lindemann M. GNB3 c.825c>T polymorphism influences T-cell but not antibody response following vaccination with the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Front Genet 2022; 13:932043. [PMID: 36105097 PMCID: PMC9465595 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.932043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Immune responses following vaccination against COVID-19 with different vaccines and the waning of immunity vary within the population. Genetic host factors are likely to contribute to this variability. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study on G protein polymorphisms and vaccination responses against COVID-19 has been published so far. Methods: Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and T-cell responses against a peptide pool of SARS-CoV-2 S1 proteins were measured 1 and 6 months after the second vaccination with mRNA-1273 in the main study group of 204 participants. Additionally, antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured in a group of 597 participants 1 month after the second vaccination with mRNA-1273. Genotypes of GNB3 c.825C>T were determined in all participants. Results: The median antibody titer against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and median values of spots increment in the SARS-CoV-2 IFN-γ ELISpot assay against the S1-peptide pool were significantly decreased from months 1 to 6 (p < 0.0001). Genotypes of GNB3 c.825C>T had no influence on the humoral immune response. At month 1, CC genotype carriers had significantly increased T-cell responses compared to CT (p = 0.005) or TT (p = 0.02) genotypes. CC genotype carriers had an almost 6-fold increased probability compared to TT genotype carriers and an almost 3-fold increased probability compared to T-allele carriers to mount a SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell response above the median value. Conclusion: CC genotype carriers of the GNB3 c.825C>T polymorphism have an increased T-cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2, which may indicate better T-cell-mediated protection against COVID-19 after vaccination with mRNA-1273.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Čiučiulkaitė
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ieva Čiučiulkaitė,
| | - Birte Möhlendick
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Laura Thümmler
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Neslinur Fisenkci
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Carina Elsner
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Winfried Siffert
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Monika Lindemann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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