Vaccines (Nov 2023)

BNT162b2 Booster Dose Elicits a Robust Antibody Response in Subjects with Abdominal Obesity and Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection

  • Alexis Elias Malavazos,
  • Carola Dubini,
  • Valentina Milani,
  • Sara Boveri,
  • Chiara Meregalli,
  • Caterina Bertolini,
  • Carola Buscemi,
  • Rosanna Cardani,
  • Laura Valentina Renna,
  • Manuel Bruno Trevisan,
  • Valentina Scravaglieri,
  • Maria Teresa Cuppone,
  • Lorenzo Menicanti,
  • Elena Costa,
  • Federico Ambrogi,
  • Chiara Ruocco,
  • Michele Carruba,
  • Gianluca Iacobellis,
  • Enzo Nisoli,
  • Massimiliano Marco Corsi Romanelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11121796
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 12
p. 1796

Abstract

Read online

Little is known about the long-term durability of the induced immune response in subjects with obesity, particularly in those with an abdominal distribution of adipose tissue. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses after BNT162b2 vaccine booster dose, comparing individuals with and without abdominal obesity (AO), discerning between individuals previously infected or not. IgG-TrimericS were measured in 511 subjects at baseline, on the 21st day after vaccine dose 1, and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months from dose 2, and at 1 and 3 months following the booster dose. To detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, nucleocapsid antibodies were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Multivariable linear regression evaluated the three-month difference in the absolute variation in IgG-TrimericS levels from booster dose, showing AO and SARS-CoV-2 infection status interactions (p = 0.016). Regardless of possible confounding factors and IgG-TrimericS levels at the booster dose, AO is associated with a higher absolute change in IgG-TrimericS in prior infected individuals (p = 0.0125). In the same regression model, no interaction is highlighted using BMI (p = 0.418). The robust response in the development of antibodies after booster dose, observed in people with AO and previous infection, may support the recommendations to administer a booster dose in this population group.

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