Abstract: FR-PO1095
Higher Serum IL-6 and IFN-γ Are Associated with Increased Seroconversion Rate Against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Either After Vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Session Information
- COVID-19 - II
November 03, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Prasad, Narayan, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Yadav, Brijesh, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Gautam, Sonam, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Yadav, Deependra Kumar, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Background
Maintenance immunosuppressives lead to a decreased immunogenic response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) than in healthy populations. However, healthy people with SARS-CoV-2 infection often develop neutralizing antibodies and secrete high quantities of cytokines leading to virus clearance and sometimes more severe COVID-19. Associations of cytokines with seroconversion rate in immunocompromised RTRs are not well studied, particularly in living donor scenarios.
Methods
In this study, we included 210 living-related RTRs, who acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection or were vaccinated with two doses of either COVISHIELD or COVAXIN; and 35 healthy controls who were neither vaccinated nor had anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG as controls. Cytokines IL-6, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10 were measured using the ELISA, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific IgG titre by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay methods.
Results
We found a seroconversion rate of 115/132 (87.12%), with a median antibody titer of 706.40 au/ml (IQR, 215.45-1844.42) in the infection group and 63/78 (80.76%) with a median titer 1454.20 (IQR, 80.52-3838.75) au/ml in vaccination group. The IL-6, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in both the infection and vaccination groups than in the healthy control. In the infection group, IL-6 (55.41±24.30 vs 31.64±16.98 pg/ml; p<0.001); IFN-γ (91.21±33.09 vs 61.69±33.28 pg/ml; p=0.001), were significantly higher in the seroconverter group as compared to non-seroconverter. TGF-β (730.48±400.47 vs 765.47±366.39 pg/ml; p=0.92) and IL-10 (91.31±48.54 vs 96.73±59.53 pg/ml; p=0.88) were similar between seroconverter and non-seroconverter. Similarly, in the vaccination group, IL-6 (50.31±25.67 vs 30.00±11.19 pg/ml; p=0.002) and IFN-γ (65.70±39.78 vs 32.14±17.48 pg/ml; p=0.001) were significantly higher in seroconverter post-vaccination compared to non-seroconverter. In contrast, TGF-β (820.96±415.78 vs 1045.57±204.66; p=0.046) was elevated in non-seroconverter, and although IL-10 (93.18±35.45 vs 112.90±59.61 pg/ml; p=0.11) was similar between seroconverter and non-converter.
Conclusion
Inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ are significantly associated with higher seroconversion rates in RTRs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.