Pre-existing anti-inflammatory immune conditions influence early antibody avidity and isotype profile following Comirnaty® vaccination in mice
Background/Objectives: Vaccine immunogenicity is often suboptimal in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, infants, and individuals in low- and middle-income countries. One contributing factor may be pre-existing immunomodulatory conditions, including helminth infections. This study investigat...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
MDPI
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/23059 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/677 https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13070677 |
| Sumario: | Background/Objectives: Vaccine immunogenicity is often suboptimal in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, infants, and individuals in low- and middle-income countries. One contributing factor may be pre-existing immunomodulatory conditions, including helminth infections. This study investigates the impact of Fasciola hepatica (F. hepatica) derived molecules on the early humoral response to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Comirnaty® in a mouse model. Methods: BALB/c mice were pretreated with a F. hepatica protein extract (FH) or complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) prior to vaccination. Cytokine production and antibody responses were assessed at 0, 14, and 21 days post-vaccination (dpv) through serum analysis and ex vivo splenocyte stimulation with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) or LPS. Results: At 0 dpv, FH-treated mice showed increased serum IL-10, while CFA treatment induced IL-12. FH- but not CFA-treated splenocytes secreted IL-10 upon RBD or LPS stimulation. At 21 dpv, FH-treated mice lacked IFN-γ production but maintained IL-10 and showed elevated IL-4, consistent with a Th2-skewed profile. Although total anti-RBD IgG levels were similar between groups, FH-treated mice exhibited reduced IgG avidity and a higher IgG1/IgG2 ratio. CFA-treated mice showed delayed avidity maturation. Conclusions: Prior exposure to F. hepatica antigens can modulate the early immune response to Comirnaty®, affecting both cellular activation and antibody quality. This altered response may reflect a reduced early protective capacity of the vaccine, which might need to be considered when designing or evaluating vaccination strategies using mRNA vaccines in helminth-endemic regions. |
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