Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in patients on haemodialysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103524
• Publication Date: 2021-08-12T00:41:43Z
• Authors: Monika Strengert; Matthias Becker; Gema Morillas Ramos; Alex Dulovic; Jens Gruber; Jennifer Juengling; Karsten Lürken; Andrea Beigel; Eike Wrenger; Gerhard Lonnemann; Anne Cossmann; Metodi V. Stankov; Alexandra Dopfer-...; Philipp D. Kaiser; Bjoern Traenkle; Ulrich Rothbauer; Gérard Krause; Nicole Schneiderh...; Georg M.N. Behrens
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Medicine (General); COVID-19 Vaccines; Protective immunity; T-Lymphocytes; Antibodies, Viral; 03 medical and health sciences; R5-920; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Renal Dialysis; Humans; Immunocompromised; BNT162 Vaccine; Aged; Variants of concern; Immunity, Cellular; Vaccines, Synthetic; SARS-CoV-2; mRNA vaccination; Vaccination; R; COVID-19; Middle Aged; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Immunity, Humoral; 3. Good health; Immunoglobulin G; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Medicine; Female; Dialysis; Research Paper

BackgroundPatients with chronic renal insufficiency on maintenance haemodialysis face an increased risk of COVID-19 induced mortality and impaired vaccine responses. To date, only a few studies have addressed SARS-CoV-2 elicited immunity in this immunocompromised population.MethodsWe assessed immunogenicity the mRNA BNT162b2 at-risk dialysis patients characterised systemic cellular humoral immune responses serum saliva using interferon γ release assay multiplex-based cytokine immunoglobulin measurements. We further compared binding capacity neutralization efficacy vaccination-induced immunoglobulins against emerging variants Alpha, Beta, Epsilon Cluster 5 by ACE2-RBD competition assay.FindingsPatients exhibit detectable but variable concern after two-dose regimen BNT162b2. Although were plasma, both anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was reduced to vaccinated non-dialysed control population. Similarly, T-cell mediated stimulation spike peptides significantly diminished.InterpretationQuantifiable vaccination individuals are encouraging, urge for longitudinal follow-up assess longevity immunity. Diminished virus may favour population re-vaccination modified vaccines at earliest opportunity.FundingInitiative Networking Fund Helmholtz Association German Research Centres, EU Horizon 2020 research innovation program, State Ministry Baden-Württemberg Economic Affairs, Labour Tourism.