Immune Responses after a Third Dose of mRNA Vaccine Differ in Virus-Naive versus SARS-CoV-2-Recovered Dialysis Patients

Background and objectives After two doses of mRNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), patients on dialysis show a defective humoral response, but a third dose could increase anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titers. Responses could be different in virus-naive and SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients on dialysis. However, characterization of memory B cell response after three doses is lacking. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We evaluated the dynamics of antireceptor binding domain IgG titers and antireceptor binding domain memory B cells until 6 months after two and three doses (administered within 6 months after the second dose) of mRNA vaccine in SARS-CoV-2-recovered and virus-naive dialysis populations. Results were analyzed by ordinary one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, or the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test as appropriate. Results In total, 108 individuals (59 patients on dialysis and 49 controls) were included. In virus-naive patients on dialysis, antireceptor binding domain IgG response was quantitatively lower after two doses compared with healthy controls, but IgG titers increased by three-fold after three doses (P50.008). In SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients on dialysis, antireceptor binding domain IgG titers after two doses were significantly higher compared with virus-naive patients on dialysis but did not significantly increase after a third dose. Regarding memory B cell response, we detected receptor binding domain-specific memory B cells at similar proportions in virus-naive patients on dialysis and vaccinated controls after two doses. Moreover, a strong receptor binding domain-specific memory B cell expansion was observed after the third dose in virus-naive patients on dialysis (5.5-fold;P,0.001).However, in SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients on dialysis, antireceptor binding domain memory B cells remained unchanged after the third dose. Conclusions The third dose of mRNA vaccine given within 6 months after the second dose boosts serologic and memory response in virus-naive patients but not in SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients on dialysis.

Automated summary

After two doses of mRNA vaccine, dialysis patients showed a defective immune response, but a third dose improved the antibody titers in virus-naive patients. However, SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients did not show a significant increase in antibody titers after the third dose. Memory B cell response also differed between virus-naive and SARS-CoV-2-recovered patients.