Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cell Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis Subjects Vaccinated for COVID-19...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Efficacy of mRNA vaccines in autoimmune patients on immunosuppressants is debated.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients present diverse disease severities and comorbidities.
• Understanding T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in RA is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
• To investigate the correlation between T cell memory and vaccine boost numbers.
• To explore the role of double-negative (DN) T cells in RA vaccine recipients.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses (CD4+, CD8+, Treg) in RA patients post-vaccination.
• Enumeration of non-specific T cells in patients with COVID-19.
• In vitro co-culture of DN T cells with myeloid dendritic cells (DCs).

Main Results:

• RA patients demonstrated circulating spike-specific CD4+ T helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells post-vaccination.
• T cell memory did not correlate with the number of vaccine injections received.
• Double-negative (DN) T cells expanded upon SARS-CoV-2 peptide stimulation and differentiated into CD8+ T cells in the presence of DCs.

Conclusions:

• Rheumatoid arthritis patients respond to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, with T cell response independent of injection count.
• The differentiation of DN T cells into CD8+ T cells may contribute to inflammation in RA vaccine recipients.