Effect of seasonal coronavirus immune imprinting on the immunogenicity of inactivated COVID-19 vaccination

Front Immunol. 2023 Aug 16:14:1195533. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1195533. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: Pre-existing cross-reactive immunity among different coronaviruses, also termed immune imprinting, may have a comprehensive impact on subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness. Here, we aim to explore the interplay between pre-existing seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) antibodies and the humoral immunity induced by COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We first collected serum samples from healthy donors prior to COVID-19 pandemic and individuals who had received COVID-19 vaccination post-pandemic in China, and the levels of IgG antibodies against sCoVs and SARS-CoV-2 were detected by ELISA. Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square test were used to compare the difference in magnitude and seropositivity rate between two groups. Then, we recruited a longitudinal cohort to collect serum samples before and after COVID-19 vaccination. The levels of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 S, S1, S2 and N antigen were monitored. Association between pre-existing sCoVs antibody and COVID-19 vaccination-induced antibodies were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation.

Results: 96.0% samples (339/353) showed the presence of IgG antibodies against at least one subtype of sCoVs. 229E and OC43 exhibited the highest seroprevalence rates at 78.5% and 72.0%, respectively, followed by NL63 (60.9%) and HKU1 (52.4%). The levels of IgG antibodies against two β coronaviruses (OC43 and HKU1) were significantly higher in these donors who had inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines compared to pre-pandemic healthy donors. However, we found that COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody levels were not significant different between two groups with high levelor low level of pre-existing sCoVs antibody among the longitudinal cohort.

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of antibodies against sCoVs in Chinese population. The immune imprinting by sCoVs could be reactivated by COVID-19 vaccination, but it did not appear to be a major factor affecting the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine. These findings will provide insights into understanding the impact of immune imprinting on subsequent multiple shots of COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; SARS-CoV-2; immune imprinting; pre-existing immunity; seasonal coronavirus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines*
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seasons
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulin G

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China[number 2022YFE0203100, 2021YFC2300103]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China [number 82041043]; Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China number 2021B1212040017]; the Science and Technology Planning Project of Shenzhen City [number 20190804095916056, JSGG20200225152008136], Shenzhen Science and Technology Program [number KQTD20180411143323605], Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen nanshan (No. SZSM202103008), and Key Subject of Nanshan district of Shenzhen for AIDS surveillance and prevention. All funding parties did not have any role in the design of the study or in the explanation of the data.