T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers

<i>Background:</i> SARS-CoV-2 T-cells are crucial for long-term protection against reinfection. The aim was to demonstrate the Interferon-gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test could be useful for vaccination monitoring. <i>Methods:</i> In a prospective cohort of 98 vaccinated healt...

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Main Authors: Silva Seraceni, Elena Zocca, Tamara Emanuela Cervone, Flaminia Tomassetti, Isabella Polidori, Massimiliano Valisi, Francesco Broccolo, Graziella Calugi, Sergio Bernardini, Massimo Pieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/49
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author Silva Seraceni
Elena Zocca
Tamara Emanuela Cervone
Flaminia Tomassetti
Isabella Polidori
Massimiliano Valisi
Francesco Broccolo
Graziella Calugi
Sergio Bernardini
Massimo Pieri
author_facet Silva Seraceni
Elena Zocca
Tamara Emanuela Cervone
Flaminia Tomassetti
Isabella Polidori
Massimiliano Valisi
Francesco Broccolo
Graziella Calugi
Sergio Bernardini
Massimo Pieri
author_sort Silva Seraceni
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background:</i> SARS-CoV-2 T-cells are crucial for long-term protection against reinfection. The aim was to demonstrate the Interferon-gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test could be useful for vaccination monitoring. <i>Methods:</i> In a prospective cohort of 98 vaccinated healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2, we selected 23 people in low-antibodies (Group 1, <i>N</i> = 8), high-antibodies (Group 2, <i>N</i> = 9), and negative control groups (Group 3, <i>N</i> = 6). SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular responses were analyzed at 8 months after two doses of Pfizer BioNTech, evaluating anti-RBD (Receptor Binding Domain) and RBD-ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2) blocking antibodies in sera through a Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) and T-cells through the IGRA test in heparinized plasma. Moreover, lymphocyte subtyping was executed by a flow cytometer. Statistical analysis was performed. <i>Results:</i> The data confirmed that RBD and RBD-ACE2 blocking ACE2 antibody levels of Group 1 were significantly lower than Group 2; <i>p</i> < 0.001. However, T-cells showed no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2. <i>Conclusions:</i> This work suggests the need for new strategies for booster doses administration.
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spelling doaj.art-d5e55c17b5bf4adbb4b75d65d366ccf02023-11-23T15:51:41ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212022-07-011034910.3390/diseases10030049T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare WorkersSilva Seraceni0Elena Zocca1Tamara Emanuela Cervone2Flaminia Tomassetti3Isabella Polidori4Massimiliano Valisi5Francesco Broccolo6Graziella Calugi7Sergio Bernardini8Massimo Pieri9Lifebrain RDI srl, Limena, 35010 Padua, ItalyLifebrain RDI srl, Limena, 35010 Padua, ItalyLifebrain RDI srl, Limena, 35010 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyLifebrain srl, Guidonia Montecelio, 00133 Rome, ItalyCerba HealthCare Italia, 20139 Milan, ItalyCerba HealthCare Italia, 20139 Milan, ItalyLifebrain srl, Guidonia Montecelio, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy<i>Background:</i> SARS-CoV-2 T-cells are crucial for long-term protection against reinfection. The aim was to demonstrate the Interferon-gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test could be useful for vaccination monitoring. <i>Methods:</i> In a prospective cohort of 98 vaccinated healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2, we selected 23 people in low-antibodies (Group 1, <i>N</i> = 8), high-antibodies (Group 2, <i>N</i> = 9), and negative control groups (Group 3, <i>N</i> = 6). SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular responses were analyzed at 8 months after two doses of Pfizer BioNTech, evaluating anti-RBD (Receptor Binding Domain) and RBD-ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2) blocking antibodies in sera through a Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) and T-cells through the IGRA test in heparinized plasma. Moreover, lymphocyte subtyping was executed by a flow cytometer. Statistical analysis was performed. <i>Results:</i> The data confirmed that RBD and RBD-ACE2 blocking ACE2 antibody levels of Group 1 were significantly lower than Group 2; <i>p</i> < 0.001. However, T-cells showed no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2. <i>Conclusions:</i> This work suggests the need for new strategies for booster doses administration.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/49adaptive responsesCOVID-19IGRA testINF-γT-cellsvaccination
spellingShingle Silva Seraceni
Elena Zocca
Tamara Emanuela Cervone
Flaminia Tomassetti
Isabella Polidori
Massimiliano Valisi
Francesco Broccolo
Graziella Calugi
Sergio Bernardini
Massimo Pieri
T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
Diseases
adaptive responses
COVID-19
IGRA test
INF-γ
T-cells
vaccination
title T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
title_full T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
title_fullStr T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
title_full_unstemmed T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
title_short T-Cell Assay after COVID-19 Vaccination Could Be a Useful Tool? A Pilot Study on Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Healthcare Workers
title_sort t cell assay after covid 19 vaccination could be a useful tool a pilot study on interferon gamma release assay in healthcare workers
topic adaptive responses
COVID-19
IGRA test
INF-γ
T-cells
vaccination
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/49
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