New Research Finds MS Patients Had Strong T-Cell Activation In Response to COVID-19 Vaccination

Study from the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York shows importance of analyzing T-cell response in COVID vaccines, particularly for immunocompromised individuals

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research, published in Frontiers in Immunology and conducted by the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, has found that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receiving anti-CD20 therapy saw strong T-cell activation after receiving two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Anti-CD20 therapies cause B-cell depletion, and MS patients receiving these therapies are considered especially vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their lower production of antibodies. This research advances the analysis of T-cell responses, particularly for MS patients, and underscores the larger need to better understand T-cell responses among immunocompromised individuals. Further research advancements may have potential implications for future vaccine designs and applications.

In a group of 43 MS patients receiving anti-CD20 therapy, the study analyzed the humoral and cellular responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the first six months after receiving the vaccines. Their responses were compared to those of a healthy control cohort of 34 individuals. After receiving both vaccine doses, MS patients saw a seroconversion rate, measuring the development of antibodies in the blood serum, of only 23.8%.

However, the study found strong T-cell activation across MS patients, with no difference in T-cell response regardless of the patient’s form of MS (relapsing remitting versus progressive MS), anti-CD20 therapy administered (Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab), and the type of mRNA-based vaccine received (Pfizer versus Moderna).

Additionally, even with subjects who had severe B-cell depletion and failed seroconversion, the study found significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T-cell cytokine release and strong T-cell proliferation capacity compared to controls. Consequently, the study’s findings suggest that the vaccine may generate a partially adaptive immune response, driven by a functionally competent T-cell arm, in MS patients with B-cell depletion.

“Our research makes a strong case for studying T-cell response to vaccines, rather than just antibodies, especially for immunocompromised individuals,” said Tisch MSRCNY research scientist Roberto Alfonso, the paper’s lead author. “Analyzing these patients’ T-cell response can lead to enhanced understanding of how they might respond to COVID-19 infection, data that could have important implications for how vaccines are designed for and administered to immunocompromised patients moving forward.”

“We’re proud to release this paper, which adds valuable nuance to existing research around the impact of COVID vaccines on MS patients and others with chronic diseases,” added Dr. Saud A. Sadiq, Director and Chief Research Scientist at the Tisch MSRCNY. “We look forward to further research on this topic and the development of more effective ways to prevent and treat COVID-19 in MS patients and others who are immunocompromised.”

The full study can be accessed here in Frontiers in Immunology.

About the Tisch MS Research Center of New York

The mission of the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York is to conduct groundbreaking medical research to ensure unparalleled care and positive outcomes for MS patients. Its integrated relationship with the International MS Management Practice (IMSMP) accelerates the pace at which research discoveries translate from lab bench to bedside. The Center aims to identify the cause of MS, understand disease mechanisms, optimize therapies, and repair the damage caused by MS while offering patients access to the best and most advanced treatments possible.