Background: Genetic-based COVID-19 vaccines have proved highly effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death. As they were first distributed on a large-scale population, adenoviral-based vaccines were linked to a very rare thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome and the interplay between platelets and vaccinations increasingly gained attention. Objective: To study the crosstalk between platelets and the vaccine-induced immune response. Methods: We prospectively enrolled young healthy volunteers who received the mRNA-based vaccine, BNT162b2 (n=15), or the adenovirus-based vaccine, AZD1222 (n=25) and studied their short-term platelet and immune response before and after vaccine injections. In a separate cohort, we retrospectively analysed the effect of aspirin on the antibody response 1 and 5 months after BNT162b2 vaccination. Results: Here we show that a faster antibody response to either vaccine is associated to the formation of platelet aggregates with marginal zone-like B-cells, a subset geared to bridge the temporal gap between innate and adaptive immunity. However, while the mRNA-based vaccine is associated with a more gradual and tolerogenic response that fosters the crosstalk between platelets and adaptive immunity, the adenovirus-based vaccine, the less immunogenic of the two, evokes an antiviral-like response during which platelets are cleared and less likely to cooperate with B-cells. Moreover, subjects taking aspirin (n=56) display lower antibody levels after BNT162b2 vaccination compared to matched individuals. Conclusions: Platelets are a component of the innate immune pathways that promote the B-cell response after vaccination. Future studies on the platelet-immune crosstalk post-immunization will improve safety, efficacy, and strategic administration of next-generation vaccines.

Distinct platelet crosstalk with adaptive and innate immune cells after adenoviral and mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 / Lombardi, Ludovica; Maiorca, Francesca; Marrapodi, Ramona; Sabetta, Annamaria; Scafa, Noemi; Pallucci, Davide; Miglionico, Marzia; Romiti, Giulio F; Corica, Bernadette; Piconese, Silvia; Polimeni, Antonella; Pulcinelli, Fabio; Cangemi, Roberto; Visentini, Marcella; Basili, Stefania; Stefanini, Lucia. - In: JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS. - ISSN 1538-7836. - (2023). [10.1016/j.jtha.2023.03.003]

Distinct platelet crosstalk with adaptive and innate immune cells after adenoviral and mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

Lombardi, Ludovica;Maiorca, Francesca;Marrapodi, Ramona;Sabetta, Annamaria;Scafa, Noemi;Pallucci, Davide;Miglionico, Marzia;Romiti, Giulio F;Corica, Bernadette;Piconese, Silvia;Polimeni, Antonella;Pulcinelli, Fabio;Cangemi, Roberto;Visentini, Marcella;Basili, Stefania;Stefanini, Lucia
2023

Abstract

Background: Genetic-based COVID-19 vaccines have proved highly effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death. As they were first distributed on a large-scale population, adenoviral-based vaccines were linked to a very rare thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome and the interplay between platelets and vaccinations increasingly gained attention. Objective: To study the crosstalk between platelets and the vaccine-induced immune response. Methods: We prospectively enrolled young healthy volunteers who received the mRNA-based vaccine, BNT162b2 (n=15), or the adenovirus-based vaccine, AZD1222 (n=25) and studied their short-term platelet and immune response before and after vaccine injections. In a separate cohort, we retrospectively analysed the effect of aspirin on the antibody response 1 and 5 months after BNT162b2 vaccination. Results: Here we show that a faster antibody response to either vaccine is associated to the formation of platelet aggregates with marginal zone-like B-cells, a subset geared to bridge the temporal gap between innate and adaptive immunity. However, while the mRNA-based vaccine is associated with a more gradual and tolerogenic response that fosters the crosstalk between platelets and adaptive immunity, the adenovirus-based vaccine, the less immunogenic of the two, evokes an antiviral-like response during which platelets are cleared and less likely to cooperate with B-cells. Moreover, subjects taking aspirin (n=56) display lower antibody levels after BNT162b2 vaccination compared to matched individuals. Conclusions: Platelets are a component of the innate immune pathways that promote the B-cell response after vaccination. Future studies on the platelet-immune crosstalk post-immunization will improve safety, efficacy, and strategic administration of next-generation vaccines.
2023
Aspirin; B-Lymphocytes; Immunothrombosis; Platelet count; Vaccine
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Distinct platelet crosstalk with adaptive and innate immune cells after adenoviral and mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 / Lombardi, Ludovica; Maiorca, Francesca; Marrapodi, Ramona; Sabetta, Annamaria; Scafa, Noemi; Pallucci, Davide; Miglionico, Marzia; Romiti, Giulio F; Corica, Bernadette; Piconese, Silvia; Polimeni, Antonella; Pulcinelli, Fabio; Cangemi, Roberto; Visentini, Marcella; Basili, Stefania; Stefanini, Lucia. - In: JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS. - ISSN 1538-7836. - (2023). [10.1016/j.jtha.2023.03.003]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1675305
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