Key result
Advanced age (>60 years) was associated with lower anti-RBD IgG levels, decreased magnitude and polyfunctionality of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses, and impaired innate immune function following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.
Why the study?
Immune factors associated with impaired SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response in elderly people were mostly unknown.
Does age >60 years impair the immune response (IgG and T cell) to the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine compared to age <60 years?
Observational (n=54)
Does age >60 years impair the immune response (IgG and T cell) to the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine compared to age <60 years?
Aging is associated with a lower and less polyfunctional T cell response to the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, driven by thymic dysfunction and innate immune remodeling.
Age-related thymic decline may impair vaccine immunogenicity in older adults; hypothesis-generating for targeted rejuvenation strategies.
The immune factors associated with impaired SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response in elderly people are mostly unknown. We studied individuals older than 60 and younger than 60 years, who had been vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA, before and after the first and second dose. Aging was associated with a lower anti-RBD IgG levels and a decreased magnitude and polyfunctionality of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response. The dramatic decrease in thymic function in people > 60 years, which fueled alteration in T cell homeostasis, and their lower CD161+ T cell levels were associated with decreased T cell response 2 months after vaccination. Additionally, deficient DC homing, activation, and TLR-mediated function, along with a proinflammatory functional profile in monocytes, were observed in the > 60-year-old group, which was also related to lower specific T cell response after vaccination. These findings might be relevant for the improvement of the current vaccination strategies and for the development of new vaccine prototypes.
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Vitallé et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Healthy adults vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (n=54). Advanced age (>60 years) vs. Younger age (<60 years) was evaluated on SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response and anti-RBD IgG levels. Advanced age (>60 years) was associated with lower anti-RBD IgG levels, decreased magnitude and polyfunctionality of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses, and impaired innate immune function following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.
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