Background:COVID-19 vaccinations may induce hypersensitivity
reactions. Delayed-type cutaneous adverse reactions(DCARs) related to
COVID-19 vaccines include maculopapular exanthem, eczematous dermatitis,
papulosquamous eruption to erythema multiforme major. However, the
pathomechanism of these reactions induced by COVID-19 vaccinations
remain unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the immune charasteristics
and HLA associations of COVID-19 vaccination-related DCARs.
Methods:We conducted an observational study on patients with
COVID-19 vaccine-DCARs and tolerant subjects. Serum immune molecules and
high-parameter blood cell analysis were analysed. In vitro
lymphocyte activation test(LAT) was performed to evaluate the causative
allergens of COVID-19 vaccines for DCARs. We also investigated the HLA
associations of COVID-19 vaccination-related DCARs. Results:We
enrolled 103 patients with COVID-19 vaccine(AZD1222(n=49),
BNT162b2(n=23), mRNA-1273)(n=30), and Nuvaxovid(Novavax)(n=1)-induced
DCARs. Patients suffered from DCARs mainly after the first vaccination
dose(75.7%). Compared to the tolerant controls, patients with DCARs
showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A,
IL-18, IFN-γ, IP-10, MIG, granulysin, PARC and TARC(
P=0.028-3.40×10 ). High-parameter flow
cytometric analysis revealed significant increased CD4
Th2, CD4 Th17, CD4
Th22, CD4 LAG3
, CD4 CD103
Trm, Tfr, CD8 CXCR3
, CD8 Tc2, CD8
Tc17 and CD8 CTLA4
cell populations were relative to variable DCARs(
P<0.05). In vitro LAT assays measuring IFN-γ,
granulysin, granzyme B, and PARC for patients with COVID19-vaccines
induced DCARs showed significantly reactive to spike protein, and
excipients (polysorbate 80, polyethene glycol(PEG) 2000, and tris)(
P<0.05). HLA genotyping showed that COVID-19
vaccine-DCARs were significantly associated with HLA-B*13:01(
P=0.015,OR:4.7,95%CI:1.3-16.6). Of note,
mRNA-1273(Moderna)-based COVID-19 vaccine-DCARs were significantly
associated with HLA- B*13:01,B*51:01, and B*54:01. The
predictive sensitivity of concurrently testing HLA- B*13:01/
B*51:01/ B*54:01 increased from 19.2-35.0% to 65.4%(
P=4.9×10 ,OR:17.0,95%CI:4.6-63.1).
Conclusions:The genetic susceptibility and specific T cell
mediated immune responses to spike protein and vaccine excipients
contributed the immune mechanism of COVID-19 vaccines-induced DCARs.