Infection or a third dose of mRNA vaccine elicits neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in kidney transplant recipients

• DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl6141
• Publication Date: 2022-02-01T14:58:06Z
• Authors: Xavier Charmetant; Maxime Espi; Ilies Benotmane; Véronique Barateau; Francoise Heibel; Fanny Buron; Gabriela Gautier-...; Marion Delafosse; Peggy Perrin; Alice Koenig; Noëlle Cognard; Charlène Levi; Floriane Gallais; Louis Manière; Paola Rossolillo; Eric Soulier; Florian Pierre; Anne Ovize; Emmanuel Morelon; Thierry Defrance; Samira Fafi-Kremer; Sophie Caillard; Olivier Thaunat
• Keywords: Immunosuppression; Regimen

Transplant recipients, who receive therapeutic immunosuppression to prevent graft rejection, are characterized by high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality and defective response vaccines. We observed that previous infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but not the standard two-dose regimen of vaccination, provided protection against symptomatic COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients. therefore compared cellular humoral immune responses these two groups patients. Neutralizing anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were identified as primary correlate for Analysis virus-specific B T cell suggested generation neutralizing anti-RBD IgG may have depended on cognate T-B interactions took place germinal center, potentially acting a limiting checkpoint. High-dose mycophenolate mofetil, an immunosuppressive drug, was associated fewer antigen-specific follicular helper (TFH) cells after vaccination; this patients recently infected SARS-CoV-2. Last, we that, independent prospective cohorts, administration third dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine restored titers about 40% individuals had previously responded doses vaccine. Together, findings suggest improves RBD-specific treated drugs.