PMMA dialyzers modulate both humoral and cell-mediate immune response to anti-COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in a cohort of chronic hemodialyzed patients

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 12217
• Main Authors: Castellano, Giuseppe, Netti, Giuseppe Stefano, Cantaluppi, Vincenzo, Losappio, Vincenzo, Spadaccino, Federica, Ranieri, Elena, Marengo, Marita, Borzumati, Maurizio, Alfieri, Carlo, Stallone, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 28.05.2024; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; BNT162 Vaccine - immunology; Cellular immunity; Cohort Studies; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Dialyzers; Female; Hemodialysis; Hemodialysis patients; Humans; Humoral immunity; Immune response; Immune response (cell-mediated); Immune response (humoral); Immunity, Cellular; Immunity, Humoral; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Poly-methyl-methacrylate; Polymers; Polymethyl Methacrylate - chemistry; Polymethylmethacrylate; Renal Dialysis; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sulfones; Vaccination - methods; Vaccine antibody response; Vaccines; γ-Interferon; SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; Vaccine antibody response; Cellular immunity; Poly-methyl-methacrylate; Humoral immunity; Hemodialysis patients
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62044-9

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) have a high risk of death from COVID-19. We evaluated the humoral and cell-mediated immune response to BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in HD patients, comparing HD with Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and HD with Polysulphone (PS). Samples were collected before vaccination (T0) and 14-days after the 2ndvaccine (T2) in a TG (TG, n = 16-Foggia) and in a VG (CG, n = 36-Novara). Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Ig were titrated in the cohort 2-weeks after the 2nddose of vaccine. In the Testing-Group, serum neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were assayed and PBMCs isolated from patients were thawed, counted and stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 IGRA stimulation tube set. All patients had a positive ab-response, except in a case. PMMA-patients had higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (p = 0.031); VG data confirmed these findings (p < 0.05). NAb evaluation: PMMA patients passed the positive cut-off value, while in PS group only only 1/8 patient did not respond. PMMA patients showed higher percentages of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/RBD-Ig after a complete vaccine schedule (p = 0.028). Interferon-gamma release: PMMA patients showed significantly higher release of IFNγ (p = 0.014). The full vaccination course provided sufficient protection against SARS-CoV-2 across the entire cohort, regardless of dialyzer type. After vaccination, PMMA patients show a better immune response, both humoral and cellular, at the end of the vaccination course than PS patients.