Impact of peripheral mitochondrial DNA level on immune response after COVID-19 vaccination

Hiroaki Ikezaki; Hideyuki Nomura; Nobuyuki Shimono

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107094

Impact of peripheral mitochondrial DNA level on immune response after COVID-19 vaccination

iScience. 2023 Jul 21;26(7):107094. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107094. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Authors

Hiroaki Ikezaki^{1

2

3}, Hideyuki Nomura³, Nobuyuki Shimono¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Internal Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan.
² Department of Comprehensive General Internal Medicine, Kyushu University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Haradoi Hospital, Fukuoka 8138588, Japan.

Abstract

The efficacy of vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the elderly is partially hindered by immunosenescence, resulting from decreased mtDNA levels. This study evaluated the correlation between mtDNA levels in peripheral leukocytes and immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Two hundred ten participants (median age 79.5 years), including 83 frail residents/inpatients and 70 robust outpatients, were analyzed. Anti-spike IgG antibody (IgG(S)) titers were serially measured from before the first vaccination to after the third vaccination. The mtDNA levels and cell-mediated immunity were measured in 45 elderly and 22 elderly individuals two months after the third vaccination. The robust group had consistently higher IgG(S) titers than the frail group. The mtDNA levels positively correlated with IgG(S) titers, as well as with cell-mediated immunity. These findings suggest that mtDNA levels positively impact vaccine-induced immunity. Further studies into maintaining mtDNA levels may provide insights into immunosenescence in the elderly.

Keywords: Immunology; Virology.