The impact of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine on adaptive and innate immune responses

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 255; p. 109762
• Main Authors: Föhse, Konstantin, Geckin, Büsra, Zoodsma, Martijn, Kilic, Gizem, Liu, Zhaoli, Röring, Rutger J., Overheul, Gijs J., van de Maat, Josephine, Bulut, Ozlem, Hoogerwerf, Jacobien J., ten Oever, Jaap, Simonetti, Elles, Schaal, Heiner, Adams, Ortwin, Müller, Lisa, Ostermann, Philipp Niklas, van de Veerdonk, Frank L., Joosten, Leo A.B., Haagmans, Bart L., van Crevel, Reinout, van Rij, Ronald P., GeurtsvanKessel, Corine, de Jonge, Marien I., Li, Yang, Domínguez-Andrés, Jorge, Netea, Mihai G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2023
• Subjects: BNT162b2; COVID-19; Innate immune response; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; BNT162b2; Innate immune response
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109762

The mRNA-based BNT162b2 protects against severe disease and mortality caused by SARS-CoV-2 via induction of specific antibody and T-cell responses. Much less is known about its broad effects on immune responses against other pathogens. Here, we investigated the adaptive immune responses induced by BNT162b2 vaccination against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and its effects on the responsiveness of immune cells upon stimulation with heterologous stimuli. BNT162b2 vaccination induced effective humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 that started to wane after six months. We also observed long-term transcriptional changes in immune cells after vaccination. Additionally, vaccination with BNT162b2 modulated innate immune responses as measured by inflammatory cytokine production after stimulation - higher IL-1/IL-6 release and decreased IFN-α production. Altogether, these data expand our knowledge regarding the overall immunological effects of this new class of vaccines and underline the need for additional studies to elucidate their effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses. •BNT162b2 vaccine offers robust antibody production that wanes after six months.•BNT162b2 vaccine impacts both adaptive and innate branches of the immune system.•BNT162b2 vaccine induces long-term transcriptional changes in PBMCs.•BNT162b2 vaccine affects cytokine production by PBMCs.