Frontiers in Immunology (Aug 2022)

Innate immune responses to three doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

  • Marina Saresella,
  • Federica Piancone,
  • Ivana Marventano,
  • Ambra Hernis,
  • Daria Trabattoni,
  • Mattia Invernizzi,
  • Francesca La Rosa,
  • Mario Clerici,
  • Mario Clerici

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.947320
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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To explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2-mRNA vaccines on innate immune responses we enrolled 58 individuals who received 3 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a longitudinal study; 45 of these individuals had never been SARS-CoV-2 infected. Results showed that vaccination significantly increased: 1) classical and intermediate inflammatory monocytes, 2) CD56bright, CD56dim, and CD56dim/CD16dim NK cells, and 3) IFN-γ+ ;production as well as perforin and granzyme content by NK cells. Vaccination also reduced expression of the NK inhibitory receptor ILT-2, increasing that of the stimulatory molecule 2DS2. These effects were long-lasting and were boosted by every vaccine dose. Notably, ILT-2 expressing NK cells were reduced even more robustly in COVID-19-recovereed vaccines. BNT162b1 mRNA vaccine is known to induce potent adaptive immune responses; results herein show its ability to modulate innate immune responses as well, offering further support to the indication to proceed with worldwide vaccination efforts to end the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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