TRAIL and IP-10 dynamics in pregnant women post COVID-19 vaccination: associations with neutralizing antibody potency

• Published in: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 2024-03, Vol.14, p.1358967-1358967
• Main Authors: Chen, Wei-Chun, Hu, Shu-Yu, Cheng, Chao-Min, Shen, Ching-Fen, Chuang, Hui-Yu, Ker, Chin-Ru, Sun, Der-Ji, Shen, Ching-Ju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Cellular and Infection Microbiology; ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; Chemokine CXCL10; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19 Vaccines; Female; Humans; interferon gamma-induced protein 10; Interferons; IP-10; neutralizing antibody; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; TRAIL; Vaccination
• ISSN: 2235-2988; 2235-2988
• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1358967

The aim of this study is to investigate changes in TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and gamma interferon-induced protein 10 (IP-10) after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women and to explore their association with neutralizing antibody (Nab) inhibition. The study evaluated 93 pregnant women who had previously received two (n=21), three (n=55) or four (n=17) doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Also we evaluated maternal blood samples that were collected during childbirth. The levels of TRAIL, IP-10 and Nab inhibition were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our study revealed four-dose group resulted in lower TRAIL levels when compared to the two-dose and three-dose groups (4.78 vs. 16.07 vs. 21.61 pg/ml, p = 0.014). The two-dose group had reduced IP-10 levels than the three-dose cohort (111.49 vs. 147.89 pg/ml, p=0.013), with no significant variation compared to the four-dose group. In addition, the four-dose group showed stronger Nab inhibition against specific strains (BA.2 and BA.5) than the three-dose group. A positive correlation was observed between TRAIL and IP-10 in the two-dose group, while this relationship was not found in other dose groups or between TRAIL/IP-10 and Nab inhibition. As the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine increase, the levels of TRAIL and IP-10 generally increase, only by the fourth dose, the group previously vaccinated with AZD1222 showed lower TRAIL but higher IP-10. Despite these changes, more doses of the vaccine consistently reinforced Nab inhibition, apparently without any relation to TRAIL and IP-10 levels. The variation may indicate the induction of immunological memory in vaccinated mothers, which justifies further research in the future.