Abstract
Objectives: The mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are now employed globally and have shown high efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, less is known about the vaccine efficacy in immune-suppressed individuals. This study sought to explore whether humoral immunity to the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 is altered in RA patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors by analysing their antibodies titre, neutralization activity and B cell responses.
Methods: We collected plasma samples from 12 RA patients who were treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, as well as 26 healthy individuals who were vaccinated with the same vaccine. We analysed the quantity of the anti-spike IgG and IgA antibodies that were elicited following the BNT162b2 vaccination, the plasma neutralization capacity and the responsiveness of the B-lymphocytes. We used ELISA to quantify the antibody titres, and a plasma neutralization assay was used to determine the virus neutralization capacity. Alteration in expression of the genes that are associated with B cell activation and the germinal centre response were analysed by quantitative PCR.
Results: Reduced levels of anti-spike IgG antibodies and neutralization capacity were seen in the RA patients who were treated with JAK inhibitors in comparison with healthy individuals. Furthermore, B cell responsiveness to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was reduced in the RA patients.
Conclusion: RA patients who are treated with JAK inhibitors show a suppressed humoral response following BNT162b2 vaccination, as revealed by the quantity and quality of the anti-spike antibodies.
Keywords: B cells; COVID-19; Janus kinase inhibitors; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; rheumatoid arthritis; vaccines.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, B cells, rheumatoid arthritis, Vaccines., Janus kinase inhibitors, 【초록키워드】 Efficacy, Vaccine, BNT162b2 vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination, Vaccines, antibody, SARS-COV-2 infection, ELISA, Spike protein, B cell, BNT162b2, Humoral immunity, Neutralization assay, anti-Spike IgG, Patient, Virus neutralization, plasma, expression, quantitative PCR, patients, anti-spike antibodies, germinal centre, JAK inhibitor, B-lymphocytes, Janus kinase inhibitor, Janus kinase, dose, neutralization capacity, humoral, Anti-spike IgG antibody, Activation, antibody titres, healthy individuals, alteration, B cell responses, neutralization activity, titre, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, plasma sample, shown, was used, collected, analysed, treated, less, determine, suppressed, individuals, the vaccine, elicited, healthy individual, was reduced, IgA antibody, patients treated, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 Arthritis, vaccination, BNT162b2, humoral immune response, Janus kinase inhibitor, Rheumatoid, reduced, patients treated,