Booster Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine in Kidney Transplanted Patients Induces Wuhan-Hu-1 Specific Neutralizing Antibodies and T Cell Activation but Lower Response against Omicron Variant

Abstract

Kidney transplanted recipients (KTR) are at high risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection due to immunosuppressive therapy. Although several studies reported antibody production in KTR after vaccination, data related to immunity to the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant are sparse. Herein, we analyzed anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response in seven KTR and eight healthy controls after the second and third dose of the mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2). A significant increase in neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers were detected against pseudoviruses expressing the Wuhan-Hu-1 spike (S) protein after the third dose in both groups, although nAbs in KTR were lower than controls. nAbs against pseudoviruses expressing the Omicron S protein were low in both groups, with no increase after the 3rd dose in KTR. Reactivity of CD4+ T cells after boosting was observed when cells were challenged with Wuhan-Hu-1 S peptides, while Omicron S peptides were less effective in both groups. IFN-γ production was detected in KTR in response to ancestral S peptides, confirming antigen-specific T cell activation. Our study demonstrates that the 3rd mRNA dose induces T cell response against Wuhan-Hu-1 spike peptides in KTR, and an increment in the humoral immunity. Instead, humoral and cellular immunity to Omicron variant immunogenic peptides were low in both KTR and healthy vaccinated subjects.