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Journal Article Epublish 6 citations

PubMed: 38543904 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12030270

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Responses in a Vaccinated COVID-19-Naive Population.

Vaccines (Basel) 12(3)

Authors: Vassiliki C Pitiriga, Myrto Papamentzelopoulou, Kanella E Konstantinakou, Irene V Vasileiou, Alexandros D Konstantinidis, Natalia I Spyrou, Athanasios Tsakris

Affiliations

  • Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.
  • Molecular Biology Unit, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece.
  • Bioiatriki Healthcare Group, Kifisias 132 and Papada Street, 11526 Athens, Greece.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Exploring T cell response duration is pivotal for understanding immune protection evolution in natural SARS-CoV-2 infections. The objective of the present study was to analyze the T cell immune response over time in individuals who were both vaccinated and COVID-19-naive and had undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies at the time of testing.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis using data extracted from the electronic medical records of consecutive adult individuals who underwent COVID-19 immunity screening at a private healthcare center from September 2021 to September 2022. The study participants were divided into three groups according to the post-vaccination time period, as follows: group A (up to 3 months), group B (3-6 months), and group C (>6 months). T cell response was evaluated using the IGRA methodology T-SPOT.COVID.

RESULTS

Of the total number of subjects (n = 165), 60/165 (36.4%) had been vaccinated in the last 3 months (group A), 57/165 (34.5%) between 3 and 6 months (group B), and 48/165 (29.1%) at least 6 months prior to the examination day (group C). T cell positivity was reported in 33/60 (55.0%) of group A, 45/57 (78.9%) of group B, and 36/48 (75%) of group C ( < 0.007). No statistically significant differences were revealed in the spot-forming cell (SFC) count among groups, with mean SFC counts of 75.96 for group A, 89.92 for group B, and 83.58 for group C (Kruskal-Wallis test, = 0.278).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that cellular immunity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may endure for at least six months, even in the presence of declining or absent IgG antibody levels.

MeSH

Cells, Sars-Cov-2, Vaccines, Immunity, Cellular, Vaccination, Covid-19, Immunity, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, T-Lymphocytes

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