EMBO Molecular Medicine (Apr 2022)

BNT162b2 vaccine induces antibody release in saliva: a possible role for mucosal viral protection?

  • Abbass Darwich,
  • Chiara Pozzi,
  • Giulia Fornasa,
  • Michela Lizier,
  • Elena Azzolini,
  • Ilaria Spadoni,
  • Francesco Carli,
  • Antonio Voza,
  • Antonio Desai,
  • Carlo Ferrero,
  • Luca Germagnoli,
  • ICH COVID‐19 Task‐force,
  • Alberto Mantovani,
  • Maria Rescigno,
  • Aghemo Alessio,
  • Anfray Clement,
  • Badalamenti Salvatore,
  • Belgiovine Cristina,
  • Bertocchi Alice,
  • Bombace Sara,
  • Brescia Paola,
  • Calcaterra Francesca,
  • Calvi Michela,
  • Cancellara Assunta,
  • Capucetti Arianna,
  • Carenza Claudia,
  • Carloni Sara,
  • Carnevale Silvia,
  • Cazzetta Valentina,
  • Cecconi Maurizio,
  • Ciccarelli Michele,
  • Coianiz Nicolò,
  • Darwich Abbass,
  • Ana Lleo De Nalda,
  • De Paoli Federica,
  • Di Donato Rachele,
  • Digifico Elisabeth,
  • Durante Barbara,
  • Farina Floriana Maria,
  • Ferrari Valentina,
  • Fornasa Giulia,
  • Franzese Sara,
  • Gil Gomez Antonio,
  • Giugliano Silvia,
  • Ana Rita Gomes,
  • Lizier Michela,
  • Lo Cascio Antonino,
  • Melacarne Alessia,
  • Mozzarelli Alessandro,
  • My Ilaria,
  • Oresta Bianca,
  • Pasqualini Fabio,
  • Pastò Anna,
  • Pelamatti Erica,
  • Perucchini Chiara,
  • Pozzi Chiara,
  • Rimoldi Valeria,
  • Rimoldi Monica,
  • Scarpa Alice,
  • Selmi Carlo,
  • Silvestri Alessandra,
  • Sironi Marina,
  • Spadoni Ilaria,
  • Spano' Salvatore,
  • Spata Gianmarco,
  • Supino Domenico,
  • Tentorio Paolo,
  • Ummarino Aldo,
  • Valentino Sonia,
  • Voza Antonio,
  • Zaghi Elisa,
  • Zanon Veronica

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202115326
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 5
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Vaccination against an airborne pathogen is very effective if it induces also the development of mucosal antibodies that can protect against infection. The mRNA‐based vaccine‐encoding SARS‐CoV‐2 full‐length spike protein (BNT162b2, Pfizer/BioNTech) protects also against infection despite being administered systemically. Here, we show that upon vaccination, cognate IgG molecules are also found in the saliva and are more abundant in SARS‐CoV‐2 previously exposed subjects, paralleling the development of plasma IgG. The antibodies titer declines at 3 months from vaccination. We identified a concentration of specific IgG in the plasma above which the relevant IgG can be detected in the saliva. Regarding IgA antibodies, we found only protease‐susceptible IgA1 antibodies in plasma while they were present at very low levels in the saliva over the course of vaccination of SARS‐CoV‐2‐naïve subjects. Thus, in response to BNT162b2 vaccine, plasma IgG can permeate into mucosal sites and participate in viral protection. It is not clear why IgA1 are detected in low amount, they may be proteolytically cleaved.

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