Perinatally Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Adolescents and Young Adults Demonstrate Distinct BNT162b2 Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Immunogenicity

Abstract

Abstract Background Immunization of vulnerable populations with distinct immunity often results in suboptimal immunogenicity, durability, and efficacy. Methods Safety and immunogenicity profiles of BNT162b2 messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), were evaluated in 28 perinatally HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 65 healthy controls (HCs) with no previous history of COVID-19. Thus, we measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–specific humoral and CD4+ T cell responses. Samples were collected before vaccination (baseline, day [D] 0), at the second dose (D21), and at 4 weeks (D28) and 6 months (D180) after D0. Proteomic profiles at D0 and D28 were assessed with a multiplexed proximity extension assay (Olink) on plasma samples. Results All HIV-infected patients mounted similar anti–SARS-CoV-2 humoral responses to those of HCs, albeit with lower titers of anti-trimeric S at D28 (P = .01). Only peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HIV-infected patients demonstrated at D28 an impaired ability to expand their specific (CD40L+) CD4+ T-cell populations. Similar humoral titers were maintained between the 2 groups at 6-months follow-up. We additionally correlated baseline protein levels to either humoral or cellular responses, identifying clusters of molecules involved in immune response regulation with inverse profiles between the 2 study groups. Conclusions Responses of ART-treated HIV-infected patients, compared to those of HCs, were characterized by distinct features especially within the proteomic compartment, supporting their eligibility to an additional dose, similarly to the HC schedule.