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Fig. 3 | Molecular Medicine

Fig. 3

From: MAIT cell compartment characteristics are associated with the immune response magnitude to the BNT162b2 mRNA anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Fig. 3

MAIT cell cytolytic arming in response to innate cytokine stimulation is negatively associated with antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. A–E Expression of CD69, granzyme B (GzmB), IFNγ, TNF and CD107a in MAIT cells from the healthy donor (HD) group stimulated for 24 h with IL-12 and IL-18, shown as representative concatenated flow cytometry plots (upper panel) and combined data from all donors at the different time points (lower panel, n = 26–35). Significance was assessed by Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison with Benjamini–Hochberg correction of p-values. F Comparison of polyfunctionality defined by co-expression of combinations of GzmB, TNF, IFNɣ and CD107a indicating mono-, bi-, tri- or tetra-functionality or cells expressing none of the tested effector molecules. G Correlation between S-antibody titers and GzmB response of stimulated MAIT cells at day 10 (n = 28), day 21 (n = 26) or day 35 (n = 34, from left to right). H, I Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) plot of concatenated MAIT cells from the healthy donor group (n = 27) at day 0. Color indicates pooled samples from individuals with (< 3000 U/mL) or high (≥ 3000 U/mL) spike-antibody titers at day 35 (H), or I expression of GzmB, TNF or IFNɣ pre-vaccination following IL-12 and IL-18 stimulation. J Correlation analysis of expression of selected functional markers in stimulated MAIT cells before vaccination (day 0) and S-antibody titer at the end of the study (day 35, n = 27). Significant correlations (p < 0.05) against GzmB or TNF response levels are depicted in K or L, respectively. Correlations were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation in G, J–L

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