ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of COVID-19 vector vaccine on autoantibody profile in reproductive age women
Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence should be addressed: Alina А. Dovgan
Oparina, 4, Moscow, 117198, Russia; moc.liamg@nagvod.anil
Funding: the study was supported by the “Investment to the Future” Sberbank Charitable Foundation within the framework of “Stop the Coronavirus Together” initiative.
Author contributions: Dovgan AA, Drapkina YuS — patient management, manuscript writing; Dolgushina NV — literature research, manuscript editing, statistical analysis; Menzhinskaya IV, Krechetova LV — laboratory research, manuscript editing; Sukhikh GT — conclusive editing and approval of the manuscript.
Compliance with ethical standards: the study was approved by Ethical Review Board at Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology (Protocol No. 12 of November 26, 2020). All participants provided informed consent for the study.
Autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated in the negative effects of vaccines on female reproductive health. This study evaluates the endogenous levels of self-reactive antibodies and ovarian reserve-associated hormones before and after immunization with the domestically developed Gam-COVID-Vac combined vector vaccine to check for possible reproductive sequelae. The prospective study enrolled 120 women aged 18–49, subject to vaccination with Gam-COVID-Vac. Ovarian reserve was assessed prior to vaccination and 90 days after the first component injection. Profiles of specific antibodies to self-antigens, including phospholipids, nuclear antigens, FSH, progesterone, and also thyroid, ovarian, trophoblast, and zona pellucida antigens, were assessed at the same time points by enzyme immunoassay. Overall, the vaccination had no effect on the levels of ovarian reserve-associated hormones and autoantibodies, apart from a transient increase in positivity for antiphosphatidylethanolamine IgM and anti-dsDNA IgG. Seroprevalence of elevated serum autoantibodies constituted 70.8% before and 75% after vaccination. According to the results, immunization with Gam-COVID-Vac does not affect ovarian reserve or autoimmune status, thus being safe for the female reproductive potential.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) vaccine, reproduction, autoantibody profile