Waning cellular immune responses and predictive factors in maintaining cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 six months after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination

Several clinical trials have shown that the humoral response produced by anti-spike antibodies elicited by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines gradually declines. The kinetics, durability and influence of epidemiological and clinical factors on cellular immunity have not been fully elucidated. We analyzed cellular immune responses elicited by BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines in 321 health care workers using whole blood interferon-gamma (IFN-& gamma;) release assays. IFN-& gamma;, induced by CD4 + and CD8 + T cells stimulated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike epitopes (Ag2), levels were highest at 3 weeks after the second vaccination (6 W) and decreased by 37.4% at 3 months (4 M) and 60.0% at 6 months (7 M), the decline of which seemed slower than that of anti-spike antibody levels. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the levels of IFN-& gamma; induced by Ag2 at 7 M were significantly correlated with age, dyslipidemia, focal adverse reactions to full vaccination, lymphocyte and monocyte counts in whole blood, Ag2 levels before the second vaccination, and Ag2 levels at 6 W. We clarified the dynamics and predictive factors for the long-lasting effects of cellular immune responses. The results emphasize the need for a booster vaccine from the perspective of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-elicited cellular immunity.

Automated summary

By analyzing the cellular immune responses of 321 healthcare workers vaccinated with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines, we found that the durability and influencing factors of cellular immune responses have not been fully understood. The levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-& gamma;) produced by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells stimulated with spike epitopes gradually declined after vaccination. Factors such as age, dyslipidemia, adverse reactions to vaccination, and certain blood cell counts were significantly correlated with the long-lasting effects of cellular immune responses. These results highlight the importance of booster vaccines for sustaining cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2.