Dynamics of specific immune response and autoantibodies against the background of vaccination with the Gam-COVID-Vac in healthy young individuals
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Relevance. The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all countries of the world and has renewed attention to the timely prevention of viral infections through specific immunization of the general population. However, some issues related to the safety of vaccine administration and the production of autoantibodies after immunization remain unclear. Objective. To evaluate the dynamics of the formation of a specific immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, autoantibody production and interrelationships between them during vaccination with Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) in healthy young adults. Material and methods. The retrospective study included 45 practically healthy students who were fully vaccinated with two components of Gam-COVID-Vac at the university medical center and made 3 follow-up visits to the center. There were 32 females (71.0%) and 13 males (29.0%) aged 19 to 28 years, with a median age of 23.00 [22.00;24.00] years. All trainees were analyzed for IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using SARS-CoV-2-IgG-IgG-IFA-BEST and SARS-CoV-2-IgM-IFA-BEST test systems, as well as IgG antibodies to double-helix deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) using kits (Vecto-dsDNA-IgG) of Vector-Best JSC (Russia). The concentration of IgM and IgG antibodies to cardiolipin (IgM aCL, IgG aCL) by the ELISA method (kits of ORGenTec Diagnostika, Germany) was investigated three times in 29 patients. Statistical processing of the results was performed using the generally accepted methods of parametric and nonparametric analysis. Results. In the examined individuals before vaccination with Gam-COVID-Vac, the levels of IgM SARS-CoV-2 and IgG SARS-CoV-2 were low and within the reference values. After administration of the first component of the vaccine, the level of IgM SARS-CoV-2 increased significantly compared with the period before vaccination (KP: 0.28 [0.17;1.25] u.u. and 0.07 [0.04;0.09] u.u., respectively, p <0.001). It remained significantly high, compared to baseline, after stage 2 vaccination (KP: 0.13 [0.07;0.37] u.u., p <0.001), but underwent a significant decrease after administration of the second vaccine component, compared to the data after stage 1 (p <0.01). After the first stage of vaccination, the KP for IgM SARS-CoV-2 exceeded values of 1.1 cfu in 14 (31.11%) individuals, but decreased to 11.11% after the second stage. After administration of the first vaccine component, compared with the baseline period, there was a dramatic increase in both the concentration of IgG SARS-CoV-2 (KP:10.24 [6.78;12.44] u.u. and 0.06 [0.05;0.11] u.u., respectively, p <0.001) and the occurrence of their high values. The detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG (KP: greater than 1.1 u.u.) after vaccination with the first component was 91.11%, and after administration of the second component, it reached 100.0%. After administration of the first component of the vaccine, a significantly higher level of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was found in men compared to women (KP 12.44 [10.24;15.78] u.u. and KP 9.75 [4.50;11.95] u.u., respectively, p <0.01). In women, there was a significant increase in IgG aCL levels (1.41 [1.02;1.62] GPL U/mL and 1.00 [0.87;1.32] GPL U/mL, respectively, p <0.05) and a trend toward higher IgG anti-dsDNA and IgM aCL concentrations (p >0.05) after stage 2 vaccination compared with those of the opposite sex. IgG anti-dsDNA values before vaccination and after administration of the first component of the vaccine were not significantly different (p >0.05). However, after the second step, the level of IgG anti-dsDNA increased and almost reached significant differences with the initial one (p=0.05). The concentration of IgG aCL increased, reaching significant differences after the second-stage vaccination compared to before (1.37 [1.02;1.51] GPL U/mL and 1.00 [0.81;1.40] GPL U/mL, respectively, p <0.05). Only in women, IgM aCL and IgG anti-dsDNA were detected in low titer after administration of the first or second components of the drug. IgG aCL were not detected in any case. Conclusions. In men and women of young age, a specific antiviral immune response is effectively formed when vaccinated with the Gam-COVID Vac. It is more pronounced in men than in women, especially after administration of the first component of the vaccine, but is not associated with the production of certain types of autoantibodies characteristic of immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases. In women after vaccination, in some cases there is induction of IgG anti-dsDNA or IgM aCL synthesis, but their concentration is low and transient.
Institutions: Yaroslavl State Medical Academy, R-Pharm (Russia)
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408843182