The Effect of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Infection on Humoral and Cellular Immunity in a Cohort of Patients with Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Pilot Study
Giulia Anna Maria Luigia Costanzo,
Giuseppina Sanna,
Francesco Pes,
Carla Maria Deiana,
Andrea Giovanni Ledda,
Andrea Perra,
Vanessa Palmas,
Valeria Manca,
Michela Miglianti,
Ferdinando Coghe,
Aldo Manzin,
Stefano Del Giacco,
Luchino Chessa,
Davide Firinu
Affiliations
Giulia Anna Maria Luigia Costanzo
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Giuseppina Sanna
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Francesco Pes
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Carla Maria Deiana
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Andrea Giovanni Ledda
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Andrea Perra
Oncology and Molecular Pathology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Vanessa Palmas
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Valeria Manca
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Michela Miglianti
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Ferdinando Coghe
Laboratory Clinical Chemical Analysis and Microbiology, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Aldo Manzin
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Stefano Del Giacco
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Luchino Chessa
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Davide Firinu
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Immunization against COVID-19 is needed in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). However, data on long-term immunity kinetics remain scarce. This study aimed to compare the humoral and cellular response to COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) compared to healthy controls. We compared the humoral and cellular response to SARS-Cov-2 elicited by vaccination and/or infection in a prospective cohort of 20 IMID patients compared with a group of 21 healthcare workers (HCWs). We assessed immunity before and after the third and fourth dose of BNT162b2 or after COVID-19 infection using quantitative IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibody (anti-S-IgG), neutralization assay, and specific interferon-gamma (IFN-g) release assay (IGRA). The responses were compared with those of healthy controls. The two groups were similar in age and total exposure, becoming infected for the first time, mainly after the third dose. Neutralizing antibodies and IGRA were negative in 9.5% of IMID patients but not in any HCWs. No significant difference was found between neutralization titers to BA.1 in the IMID and the HCW groups. The study highlights the SARS-CoV-2 immunological responses in healthy controls and IMID patients, suggesting that the combined stimuli of vaccination and infection in IMID patients could promote a more profound immunological response.
