COVID-19 Vaccination Alters NK Cell Dynamics and Transiently Reduces HBsAg Titers Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis Bopen access
- Authors
- Shin, Hyunjae; Lee, Ha Seok; Noh, Ji Yun; Koh, June-Young; Kim, So-Young; Park, Jeayeon; Chung, Sung Won; Hur, Moon Haeng; Park, Min Kyung; Lee, Yun Bin; Kim, Yoon Jun; Yoon, Jung-Hwan; Ko, Jae-Hoon; Peck, Kyong Ran; Song, Joon Young; Shin, Eui-Cheol; Lee, Jeong-Hoon
- Issue Date
- Oct-2023
- Publisher
- 대한면역학회
- Keywords
- Chronic hepatitis B; COVID-19 vaccines; HBsAg; NK cells; NKG2A
- Citation
- Immune Network, v.23, no.5
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
KCI
- Journal Title
- Immune Network
- Volume
- 23
- Number
- 5
- URI
- https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/65394
- DOI
- 10.4110/in.2023.23.e39
- ISSN
- 1598-2629
2092-6685
- Abstract
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may non-specifically alter the host immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) titer and host immunity in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Consecutive 2,797 CHB patients who had serial HBsAg measurements during antiviral treatment were included in this study. Changes in the HBsAg levels after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed. The dynamics of NK cells following COVID-19 vaccination were also examined using serial blood samples collected prospectively from 25 healthy volunteers. Vaccinated CHB patients (n=2,329) had significantly lower HBsAg levels 1–30 days post-vaccination compared to baseline (median, −21.4 IU/ml from baseline), but the levels reverted to baseline by 91–180 days (median, −3.8 IU/ml). The velocity of the HBsAg decline was transiently accelerated within 30 days after vaccination (median velocity: −0.06, −0.39, and −0.04 log10 IU/ml/year in pre-vaccination period, days 1–30, and days 31–90, respectively). In contrast, unvaccinated patients (n=468) had no change in HBsAg levels. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2A, an NK inhibitory receptor, significantly decreased within 7 days after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (median, −13.1% from baseline; p<0.001). The decrease in the frequency of NKG2A+ NK cells was observed in the CD56dimCD16+ NK cell population regardless of type of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination leads to a rapid, transient decline in HBsAg titer and a decrease in the frequency of NKG2A+ NK cells. © 2023. The Korean Association of Immunologists.
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