Naslov
Importance of Cellular Immunity and IFN-γ Concentration in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Reinfection: A Cohort Study

Autori
Primorac, Dragan ; Brlek, Petar ; Pavelić, Eduard Stjepan ; Mešić, Jana ; Glavaš Weinberger, David ; Matišić, Vid ; Molnar, Vilim ; Srića, Saša ; Zadro, Renata

Izvornik
Viruses (1999-4915) 15 (2023), 3; 1-8

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; cellular immunity ; Omicron variant ; infection ; vaccination ; humoral immunity

Sažetak
Recent studies have highlighted the underestimated importance of the cellular immune response after the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2, and the significantly reduced neutralizing power of antibody titers in individuals with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. Our study included 303 participants who were tested at St. Catherine Specialty Hospital using the Quan-T-Cell SARS-CoV-2 in combination with the Quan-T-Cell ELISA (Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika, Lübeck, Germany) for the analysis of IFN-γ concentration, and with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac ELISA IgG (Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika, Lübeck, Germany) for the detection of human antibodies of the immunoglobulin class IgG against the S1 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the concentration of IFN-γ between reinfected participants and those without infection (p = 0.012). Participants who were not infected or reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination and/or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection had a significantly higher level of cellular immunity. Furthermore, in individuals without additional vaccination, those who experienced infection/reinfection had significantly lower levels of IFN-γ compared to uninfected participants (p = 0.016). Our findings suggest a long-lasting effect of cellular immunity, measured by IFN-γ concentrations, which plays a key role in preventing infections and reinfections after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti, Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA