Background: Lung-transplant (LT) recipients are at high risk for COVID-19 due to immunosuppression and respiratory tropism of SARS-CoV-2. The information on the effect of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to elicit immunogenic responses after a two-dose (2D) regimen in LT recipients is sparse. Thus, we assessed the effect of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines’ 2D regimen on anti-spike responses in immunocompromised LT recipients. Methods: We utilized serum samples from LT recipients vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 with 2D of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and 2D-vaccinated naïve (non-transplanted and non-exposed to COVID-19) group. Antibody responses were assessed using the FDA-approved SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid protein IgG assay (IgG NC ), the SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike protein IgM assay (IgM SP ), and the SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike protein IgG II assay (IgG SP ). CD4+ T-cell activity was assessed as a marker of immune competence using the ImmuKnow ® assay. Results: About 25% (18/73) of SARS-CoV-2 uninfected-LT patients generated a positive spike-IgG response following 2D of vaccines, with 36% (9/25) in the Moderna cohort and only 19% (9/48) in the Pfizer cohort. 2D in LT patients elicited a significantly lesser median IgG SP response (1.7 AU/mL, 95% CI: 0.6–7.5 AU/mL) compared to non-transplanted, uninfected naïve subjects (14,209 AU/mL, 95% CI: 11,261–18,836 AU/mL; p < 0.0001). In LT patients, the Moderna-evoked seropositivity trend was higher than Pfizer. Conclusion: 2D COVID-19 vaccination elicits a dampened serological response in LT patients. Whether assessing other arms of host immunity combined with a higher vaccine dose can better capture and elicit improved immunogenicity in this immunocompromised population warrants investigation.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IgG, IgM, spike, nucleocapsid, serological response, lung transplantation, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, two doses, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Vaccine, Vaccines, Antibody Response, Immunosuppression, immune, vaccine dose, Pfizer, Protein, Cohort, COVID-19 vaccination, mRNA, response, Patient, Immunocompromised, information, patients, Pfizer-BioNTech, Anti-spike, Moderna, marker, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, high risk, regimen, recipients, host immunity, naïve, immunogenic, positive, recipient, serum sample, anti-spike protein IgG, uninfected, CD4+ T-cell, Arm, significantly, median, elicit, elicited, naïve subject, the SARS-CoV-2, tropism of SARS-CoV-2, were assessed, 【제목키워드】 Transplant, mRNA, response, recipient,