Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors
Abstract Background Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) represent a well-established therapeutic option for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding their impact on de novo immune responses to vaccinations. T cells may confer long-lasting immunity and cross-...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Rheumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00542-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849235629369458688 |
|---|---|
| author | Sebastian Hüper Florian Eisele Johannes Duell Marc Schmalzing Lea Nagler Patrick Pascal Strunz Matthias Froehlich Jan Portegys Michael Gernert |
| author_facet | Sebastian Hüper Florian Eisele Johannes Duell Marc Schmalzing Lea Nagler Patrick Pascal Strunz Matthias Froehlich Jan Portegys Michael Gernert |
| author_sort | Sebastian Hüper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) represent a well-established therapeutic option for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding their impact on de novo immune responses to vaccinations. T cells may confer long-lasting immunity and cross-recognise evolving epitopes of new viral variants, as evidenced by the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Consequently, we investigated the de novo T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing treatment with JAK inhibitors. Methods Cross-sectional study, conducted in an outpatient department. Patients with rheumatic disease who had received two vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 while under therapy with JAKi (n = 22) or tumour necrosis factor-blocking biologicals (TNFi) (control group n = 16) were recruited. To evaluate the vaccine-induced T cell response, the patients’ PBMCs were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptides. The percentage of CD4+ T cells responding specifically to this stimulation by producing IFNγ was then measured using intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. In addition antibody response to vaccination was assessed. Results A specific T cell response was detected in 11 out of 22 (50.0%) of patients in the JAKi cohort, compared to 13 out of 16 (81.3%) of the TNFi cohort (p = 0.088). Patients on JAKi had a lower percentage of CD4+ T cells responding to stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides than patients on TNFi (p = 0.021). The proportion of patients with an antibody response and absolute anti-spike IgG levels did not significantly differ between the cohorts. Conclusions Patients on JAKi exhibited a compromised de novo T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared to TNFi patients. There is a need for further research on the effect of JAKi on T cell responses to vaccination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92cf81a9129c476db5120c4c02997987 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2520-1026 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-92cf81a9129c476db5120c4c029979872025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCBMC Rheumatology2520-10262025-07-01911710.1186/s41927-025-00542-7Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitorsSebastian Hüper0Florian Eisele1Johannes Duell2Marc Schmalzing3Lea Nagler4Patrick Pascal Strunz5Matthias Froehlich6Jan Portegys7Michael Gernert8Department of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital WürzburgAbstract Background Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) represent a well-established therapeutic option for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding their impact on de novo immune responses to vaccinations. T cells may confer long-lasting immunity and cross-recognise evolving epitopes of new viral variants, as evidenced by the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Consequently, we investigated the de novo T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing treatment with JAK inhibitors. Methods Cross-sectional study, conducted in an outpatient department. Patients with rheumatic disease who had received two vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 while under therapy with JAKi (n = 22) or tumour necrosis factor-blocking biologicals (TNFi) (control group n = 16) were recruited. To evaluate the vaccine-induced T cell response, the patients’ PBMCs were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptides. The percentage of CD4+ T cells responding specifically to this stimulation by producing IFNγ was then measured using intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. In addition antibody response to vaccination was assessed. Results A specific T cell response was detected in 11 out of 22 (50.0%) of patients in the JAKi cohort, compared to 13 out of 16 (81.3%) of the TNFi cohort (p = 0.088). Patients on JAKi had a lower percentage of CD4+ T cells responding to stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides than patients on TNFi (p = 0.021). The proportion of patients with an antibody response and absolute anti-spike IgG levels did not significantly differ between the cohorts. Conclusions Patients on JAKi exhibited a compromised de novo T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared to TNFi patients. There is a need for further research on the effect of JAKi on T cell responses to vaccination.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00542-7Janus kinase inhibitorsVaccinationT cell responseSARS-CoV-2 vaccinationJAK- inhibitorsTH1-response |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Hüper Florian Eisele Johannes Duell Marc Schmalzing Lea Nagler Patrick Pascal Strunz Matthias Froehlich Jan Portegys Michael Gernert Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors BMC Rheumatology Janus kinase inhibitors Vaccination T cell response SARS-CoV-2 vaccination JAK- inhibitors TH1-response |
| title | Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors |
| title_full | Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors |
| title_short | Comparison of T cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors and TNF inhibitors |
| title_sort | comparison of t cell response to vaccination in rheumatic patients treated with janus kinase inhibitors and tnf inhibitors |
| topic | Janus kinase inhibitors Vaccination T cell response SARS-CoV-2 vaccination JAK- inhibitors TH1-response |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00542-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sebastianhuper comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT florianeisele comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT johannesduell comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT marcschmalzing comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT leanagler comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT patrickpascalstrunz comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT matthiasfroehlich comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT janportegys comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors AT michaelgernert comparisonoftcellresponsetovaccinationinrheumaticpatientstreatedwithjanuskinaseinhibitorsandtnfinhibitors |