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COVID-19 Vaccination Alters NK Cell Dynamics and Transiently Reduces HBsAg Titers Among Patients With Chronic

Hyunjae Shin1, Ha Seok Lee2, Ji Yun Noh3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.

Immune Network
|November 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 vaccination transiently reduced hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in chronic hepatitis B patients and decreased NKG2A+ NK cells in healthy volunteers. These immune changes were temporary, with HBsAg levels returning to baseline within 180 days.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hepatology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may induce non-specific immune alterations.
  • Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients on antiviral therapy have specific immune profiles.
  • Understanding vaccine impacts on CHB patients is crucial for managing liver disease and immune response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in CHB patients.
  • To assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on natural killer (NK) cell dynamics in healthy volunteers.
  • To determine if COVID-19 vaccination influences host immunity in the context of CHB.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of serial HBsAg measurements in 2,797 CHB patients before and after COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Prospective collection of serial blood samples from 25 healthy volunteers for NK cell analysis.
  • Flow cytometry used to examine NK cell populations, specifically NKG2A expression.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 vaccinated CHB patients showed a significant, transient decline in HBsAg levels within 30 days post-vaccination (-21.4 IU/ml), with levels reverting by 91-180 days.
  • The velocity of HBsAg decline was transiently accelerated post-vaccination.
  • A significant decrease in NKG2A+ NK cells was observed within 7 days after the first COVID-19 vaccine dose in healthy volunteers.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 vaccination induces a rapid, temporary reduction in HBsAg titers in CHB patients.
  • COVID-19 vaccination transiently decreases the frequency of NKG2A+ NK cells, indicating a short-term modulation of innate immunity.
  • These findings highlight the transient immunomodulatory effects of COVID-19 vaccines on both liver-specific antigens and innate immune cells.

Keywords:
COVID-19 vaccinesChronic hepatitis BHBsAgNK cellsNKG2A

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