Cutting edge: Serum but not mucosal antibody responses are associated with pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 spike cross-reactive CD4(+) T cells following BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Cutting edge: Serum but not mucosal antibody responses are associated with pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 spike cross-reactive CD4(+) T cells following BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly
Creators Name:	Meyer-Arndt, L. and Schwarz, T. and Loyal, L. and Henze, L. and Kruse, B. and Dingeldey, M. and Gürcan, K. and Uyar-Aydin, Z. and Müller, M.A. and Drosten, C. and Paul, F. and Sander, L.E. and Demuth, I. and Lauster, R. and Giesecke-Thiel, C. and Braun, J. and Corman, V.M. and Thiel, A.
Abstract:	Advanced age is a main risk factor for severe COVID-19. However, low vaccination efficacy and accelerated waning immunity have been reported in this age group. To elucidate age-related differences in immunogenicity, we analyzed human cellular, serological, and salivary SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein-specific immune responses to the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in old (69-92 y) and middle-aged (24-57 y) vaccinees compared with natural infection (COVID-19 convalescents, 21-55 y of age). Serological humoral responses to vaccination excee-ded those of convalescents, but salivary anti-spike subunit 1 (S1) IgA and neutralizing capacity were less durable in vaccinees. In old vaccinees, we observed that pre-existing spike-specific CD4(+) T cells are associated with efficient induction of anti-S1 IgG and neutralizing capacity in serum but not saliva. Our results suggest pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4(+) T cells as a predictor of an efficient COVID-19 vaccine-induced humoral immune response in old individuals.
Keywords:	Age Factors, Aging, BNT162 Vaccine, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, COVID-19, Coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, Neutralizing Antibodies, Nursing Homes, SARS-CoV-2, Saliva, Vaccination, Vaccine Efficacy, Viral Antibodies
Source:	Journal of Immunology
ISSN:	0022-1767
Publisher:	American Association of Immunologists
Volume:	208
Number:	5
Page Range:	1001-1008
Date:	1 March 2022
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2100990
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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