Comparison of T cells mediated immunity and side effects of mRNA vaccine and conventional COVID-19 vaccines administrated in Jordan

ABSTRACT

Various COVID-19 vaccines can affect the immune system. Discrepancies have been noted in immune system characteristics, such as T-lymphocyte levels, between vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. This study investigates the variations in immune responses among the four administered COVID-19 vaccines, influencing factors, and clinical outcomes in Jordan. A total of 350 adults, who were at least two doses vaccinated, were interviewed and blood samples were collected for subsequent laboratory analyses. The study involved the quantification of T-cells specifically targeting anti-SARS CoV-2 using Flow cytometry analysis. BNT162b2 (Pfizer) recipients displayed significantly higher CD3⁺/CD4⁺ T-helper cell responses (90.84%, 87.46% – 94.22%) compared to non-Pfizer-BioNTech recipients {BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) and Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute), then ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca)} (83.62%, 77.91% − 89.33%). The CD3⁺/CD8⁺ (T cytotoxic) level was notably elevated in non-Pfizer-BioNTech recipients {Sinopharm and Sputnik V then ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 AstraZeneca (73.94%, 69.38% − 78.49%) compared to BNT162b2 (Pfizer) recipients (58.26%, 53.07% − 63.44%). The CD3⁺ (T-cells) level showed no significant difference between BNT162b2 recipients (73.74%) and non-Pfizer-BioNTech recipients (77.83%), with both types generating T-cells. Comparing two doses of non-Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines with the third dose of BNT162b2 recipients (Pfizer), no difference in the type of immune reaction was observed, with non-Pfizer-BioNTech recipients still stimulating endogenous pathways like cell-mediated cytotoxic effects for cells. All COVID-19 vaccines administered in Jordan were effective, with respect to the total number of T cells. Non-Pfizer-BioNTech had higher in toxic T-cells and Pfizer-BioNTech was higher in helper T-cells that stimulate plasma cells to produce antibodies.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 vaccines
• Jordan
• T-cells
• flow cytometry analysis

Acknowledgments

We thank all people who participated and contributed to our work for their help with the conduction of the study, to Deanship of Scientific Research and innovation, Al-Balqa Applied University.

Authors’ contributions

Hatim M Jaber: Supervision, conception and design, analysis, and interpretation of the data

Saja Ebdah: collecting data and samples, lab analysis and drafting of the paper

Sameer A. Al Haj Mahmoud: revising it critically for intellectual content and the final approval of the version to be published.

Luay Abu-Qatouseh: revising it critically for intellectual content and the final approval of the version to be published.

Yazan H. Jaber: revising it critically for intellectual content and the final approval of the version to be published

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Consent for publication

All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Data availability statement

Data reported in this manuscript is available within the article. Any additional data will be made available from the corresponding authors, Dr. Hatim Jaber or Saja Ebdah, upon request.

Ethical approval and informed consent

All study procedures were performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. All authors attest they meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website at https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2333104

Additional information

Funding

This work was completed in partial fulfilment of an MSc in Medical Laboratory. This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research and innovation, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.