Specific long‐term changes in anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG modifications and antibody functions in mRNA, adenovector, and protein subunit vaccines

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 96; no. 7; pp. e29793 - n/a
• Main Authors: Reinig, Sebastian, Kuo, Chin, Wu, Chia‐Chun, Huang, Sheng‐Yu, Yu, Jau‐Song, Shih, Shin‐Ru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Adaptive immunity; adenovector vaccine; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; antibody functions; anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; COVID‐19 disease; Fc receptors; Female; Females; Flow cytometry; Glycosylation; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Liquid chromatography; Male; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Middle Aged; mRNA; mRNA vaccine; mRNA Vaccines; Phagocytosis; protein subunit vaccine; Protein Subunit Vaccines; Proteins; RNA, Messenger - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Structure-function relationships; Vaccines; Vaccines, Subunit - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Subunit - genetics; Vaccines, Subunit - immunology; Young Adult; anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG; COVID‐19 disease; antibody functions; adenovector vaccine; protein subunit vaccine; mRNA vaccine
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29793

Various vaccine platforms were developed and deployed against the COVID‐19 disease. The Fc‐mediated functions of IgG antibodies are essential in the adaptive immune response elicited by vaccines. However, the long‐term changes of protein subunit vaccines and their combinations with messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are unknown. A total of 272 serum and plasma samples were collected from individuals who received first to third doses of the protein subunit Medigen, the mRNA (BNT, Moderna), or the adenovector AstraZeneca vaccines. The IgG subclass level was measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and Fc‐N glycosylation was measured using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Antibody‐dependent‐cellular‐phagocytosis (ADCP) and complement deposition (ADCD) of anti‐spike (S) IgG antibodies were measured by flow cytometry. IgG1 and 3 reached the highest anti‐S IgG subclass level. IgG1, 2, and 4 subclass levels significantly increased in mRNA‐ and Medigen‐vaccinated individuals. Fc‐glycosylation was stable, except in female BNT vaccinees, who showed increased bisection and decreased galactosylation. Female BNT vaccinees had a higher anti‐S IgG titer than that of males. ADCP declined in all groups. ADCD was significantly lower in AstraZeneca‐vaccinated individuals. Each vaccine produced specific long‐term changes in Fc structure and function. This finding is critical when selecting a vaccine platform or combination to achieve the desired immune response.