Abstract
The humoral and cellular immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) upon the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination remain to be clarified. Hence, we aimed to investigate the long-term chronological changes in SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibody, neutralizing antibody, and T cell responses during and after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. We performed serological, neutralization, and T cell assays among 100 hospital workers aged 22-73 years who received the vaccine. We conducted seven surveys up to 8 months after the second vaccination dose. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific IgG (IgG-S) titers and T cell responses increased significantly following the first vaccination dose. The highest titers were observed on day 29 and decreased gradually until the end of the follow-up period. There was no correlation between IgG-S and T cell responses. Notably, T cell responses were detected on day 15, earlier than the onset of neutralizing activity. This study demonstrated that both IgG-S and T cell responses were detected before acquiring sufficient levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. These immune responses are sustained for approximately 6 to 10 weeks but not for 7 months or later following the second vaccination, indicating the need for the booster dose (i.e., third vaccination).
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, neutralizing antibody, SARS-CoV-2, IgG, BNT162b2 vaccine, coronavirus, immune response, vaccination, Cellular immune response, neutralization, hospital, T cell assay, Neutralizing activity, IgG antibody, T cell responses, serological, booster dose, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, T cell response, SARS-CoV-2 spike, dose, humoral, acute respiratory syndrome, follow-up period, second vaccination, no correlation, first vaccination, Seven, highest, performed, significantly, conducted, receiving, changes in, demonstrated, the vaccine, sustained, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, T cell, humoral immune response,