Journal Article

Longitudinal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral immunity after natural infection or BNT162b2 vaccination

Ruiz-Ruigomez, Maria, Vila, Juan, Moreno-Batanero, Miguel, Zamarron, Isabel, Perez-Ordoño, Luis, Lumbreras, Carlos, Allende, Luis Miguel, Delgado, Pilar, Alarcon, Balbino, Arellano, Irene, Paz-Artal, Estela, Maestro de la Calle, Guillermo, Meléndez-Carmona, María Ángeles, Chivite-Lacaba, Marta, Gil-Etayo, Francisco Javier, Utrero-Rico, Alberto, Laguna-Goya, Rocio, Aguado, Jose Maria, Martín-Higuera, Carmen, Muro, Eva, Almendro-Vázquez, Patricia, Lalueza, Antonio

2021

Overview

The timing of the development of specific adaptive immunity after natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its relevance in clinical outcome, has not been characterized in depth. Description of the long-term maintenance of both cellular and humoral responses elicited by real-world anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is still scarce. Here we aimed to understand the development of optimal protective responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. We performed an early, longitudinal study of S1-, M- and N-specific IFN-γ and IL-2 T cell immunity and anti-S total and neutralizing antibodies in 88 mild, moderate or severe acute COVID-19 patients. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive immunity was also analysed in 234 COVID-19 recovered subjects, 28 uninfected BNT162b2-vaccinees and 30 uninfected healthy controls. Upon natural infection, cellular and humoral responses were early and coordinated in mild patients, while weak and inconsistent in severe patients. The S1-specific cellular response measured at hospital arrival was an independent predictive factor against severity. In COVID-19 recovered patients, four to seven months post-infection, cellular immunity was maintained but antibodies and neutralization capacity declined. Finally, a robust Th1-driven immune response was developed in uninfected BNT162b2-vaccinees. Three months post-vaccination, the cellular response was comparable, while the humoral response was consistently stronger, to that measured in COVID-19 recovered patients. Thus, measurement of both humoral and cellular responses provides information on prognosis and protection from infection, which may add value for individual and public health recommendations.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adaptive immunity / Adult / Aged / Antibodies / Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood / Antibodies, Viral - blood / Biology and Life Sciences / BNT162 Vaccine - immunology / Cell-mediated immunity / Cellular immunity / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - immunology / COVID-19 vaccines / Emergency medical care / Female / Health aspects / Hospitalization / Humans / Humoral immunity / Immune response / Immune response (humoral) / Immune system / Immunity / Immunity (cell-mediated) / Immunity (humoral) / Immunoglobulin G - blood / Infections / Interleukin 2 / Longitudinal Studies / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Male / Medicine and Health Sciences / Middle Aged / Neutralization / Pandemics / Patients / Proteins / Public health / SARS-CoV-2 - immunology / Serology / Severe acute respiratory syndrome / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology / T-Lymphocytes - immunology / Vaccination / γ-Interferon