Long term persistence of SARS-CoV-2 humoral response in multiple sclerosis subjects.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:

The persistence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 pandemic, partly due to the appearance of highly infectious variants, has made booster vaccinations necessary for vulnerable groups. Here, we present data regarding the decline of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-induced humoral immune response in a monocentric cohort of MS patients.

METHODS:

96 MS patients undergoing eight different DMTs, all without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, were evaluated for anti-Spike IgG levels, 21 days (T1) and 5-6 months (T2) after the second SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine dose. The anti-Spike IgG titre from MS subjects was compared with 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC).

RESULTS:

When compared with SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels at T2 in HC, we observed comparable levels in interferon-β 1a-, dimethyl fumarate-, teriflunomide- and natalizumab-treated MS subjects, but an impaired humoral response in MS subjects undergoing glatiramer acetate-, cladribine-, fingolimod- and ocrelizumab-treatments. Moreover, comparison between SARS-CoV-2 IgG Spike titre at T1 and T2 revealed a faster decline of the humoral response in patients undergoing dimethyl fumarate-, interferon-β 1a- and glatiramer acetate-therapies, while those receiving teriflunomide and natalizumab showed higher persistence compared to healthy controls.

CONCLUSION:

The prominent decline in humoral response in MS subjects undergoing dimethyl fumarate-, interferon-β 1a- and glatiramer acetate-therapies should be considered when formulating booster regimens as these subjects would benefit of early booster vaccinations.

• Authors: Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Anne Lise Ferrara, Antonietta Liotti, Valentino Manzo, Maria Elena Di Battista, Simona Salvatore, Daniela Graziano, Assunta Viola, Gerardino Amato, Ornella Moreggia, Daniele Di Giulio Cesare, Gennaro Alfieri, Walter Di Iorio, Gennaro Della Rocca, Vincenzo Andreone, Veronica De Rosa
• Journal: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders (Mult Scler Relat Disord) Vol. 62 Pg. 103800 (Jun 2022) ISSN: 2211-0356 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 35462168 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Immunoglobulin G
• Natalizumab
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• mRNA Vaccines
• Glatiramer Acetate
• Dimethyl Fumarate
• BNT162 Vaccine
• Interferon beta-1a

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral
• BNT162 Vaccine
• COVID-19
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Dimethyl Fumarate (therapeutic use)
• Glatiramer Acetate (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (therapeutic use)
• Interferon beta-1a (therapeutic use)
• Multiple Sclerosis (drug therapy)
• Natalizumab (therapeutic use)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• mRNA Vaccines