Vaccination with Tozimameran Induces T-Cell Activation, but Not Senescent or Exhaustive Alterations, in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND

Multiple vaccinations have potential inimical effects on the immune system aging process. We examined whether response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with Tozinameran is associated with immunosenescence and immunoexhaustion in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, we observed 39 adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who had no pre-existing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and were on stable immunosuppression. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subpopulations [comprising CD45RA+CCR7+ (naïve), CD45RA-CCR7+ (T-central memory, TCM), CD45RA-CCR7- (T-effector memory, TEM) and CD45RA+CCR7- (T-effector memory re-expressing CD45RA, T, senescent), CD28- (senescent) and PD1+ (exhausted)] were evaluated at 2 time points: T1 (48 h prior to the 3rd), and T2 (3 weeks following the 3rd Tozinameran dose administration). At each time point, patients were separated into Humoral and/or Cellular Responders and Non-Responders.

RESULTS

From T1 to T2, CD4+TCM and CD8+TEM were increased, while naïve CD4+ and CD8+ proportions were reduced in the whole cohort of patients, more prominently among responders. At T2, responders compared to non-responders had higher CD8+CD28+ [227.15 (166) vs. 131.44 (121) cells/µL, : 0.036], lower CD4+CD28- T-lymphocyte numbers [59.65 (66) cells/µL vs. 161.19 (92) cells/µL, : 0.026] and percentages [6.1 (5.5)% vs. 20.7 (25)%, : 0.04].

CONCLUSION

In KTRs, response to vaccination is not associated with an expansion of senescent and exhausted T-cell concentrations, but rather with a switch from naïve to differentiated-activated T-cell forms.