Journal Article

Polymorphism in IFNλ Can Impact the Immune/Inflammatory Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Older CMV-Seropositive Adults

Cândido, Érika Donizetti de Oliveira, Silva, Brenda Rodrigues, Aguiar, Andressa Simões, Chalup, Vanessa Nascimento, Luiz Durigon, Edison, Nali, Luiz Henrique da Silva, Scagion, Guilherme Pereira, Nardy, Ariane, do Amaral, Jônatas Bussador, Shio, Marina Tiemi, Monteiro, Fernanda Rodrigues, Furtado, Guilherme Eustáquio, França, Carolina Nunes, Bachi, André Luis Lacerda, Leal Oliveira, Danielle Bruna

2025

Overview

Background: Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may favor the development of immunosenescence and inflammation that impair vaccine responses, including COVID-19. In addition, the polymorphism of the interferon-lambda gene (IFNλ) affects COVID-19 immune responses in older adults. Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of IFNλ polymorphism (IL28B gene-rs12979860) on the immune/inflammatory response to vaccination with CoronaVac for COVID-19 in older adults who were CMV-seropositive. Methods: Blood samples from 42 CMV-seropositive older adults (73.7 ± 4.5 years) were collected before and 30 days after immunization with a second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine to evaluate the immune/inflammatory response. Results: At genotyping, 20 subjects were homozygous for the C/C alleles (Allele-1 group), 5 were homozygous for the T/T Alleles (Allele-2 group), and 17 were heterozygous (C/T, Alleles-1/2 group). The Allele-1 group showed higher IgG levels for COVID-19 (p = 0.0269) and intermediate monocyte percentage (p = 0.017), in contrast to a lower non-classical monocyte percentage (p = 0.0141) post-vaccination than pre-vaccination. Also, this group showed that IgG levels for CMV were positively associated with a systemic pro-inflammatory state and senescent T cells (CD4+ and CD8+). The Allele-2 group presented higher IFN-β levels at pre- (p = 0.0248) and post-vaccination (p = 0.0206) than the values in the Allele-1 and Alleles-1/2 groups, respectively. In addition, the Allele-2 and Alleles-1/2 groups showed that IgG levels for COVID-19 were positively associated with a balanced systemic inflammatory state. Conclusion: CMV-seropositivity in older adults who had Allele-1 could lead to an unbalanced systemic inflammatory state, which may impair their antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination compared to other volunteer groups.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adults / Aged / Aging / Alleles / Analysis / Antibody response / Anticoagulants / Antigens / B cells / Biological response modifiers / Care and treatment / CD4 antigen / CD8 antigen / Cells / Chronic infection / Consent / COVID-19 / COVID-19 vaccines / Cytokines / Cytomegalovirus / Development and progression / Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid / Gene polymorphism / Genetic aspects / Genetic polymorphisms / Genotyping / Geriatrics / Health aspects / Immune response / Immunization / Immunoglobulin G / immunoglobulins / immunophenotyping / Immunosenescence / Infection / Infections / inflammaging / Inflammation / Inflammatory response / Interferon / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Monocytes / Older people / Polymorphism / Sample size / SARS-CoV-2 / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Statistical power / T cells / Vaccination / Vaccines / Viral infections / β-Interferon