A Preliminary Study about the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Inflammatory Process after COVID-19 Vaccination and COVID-19 Disease

Abstract

During the last couple of critical years, worldwide, there have been more than 550 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including more than 6 million deaths (reported by the WHO); with respect to these cases, several vaccines, mainly mRNA vaccines, seem to prevent and protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesize that oxidative stress is one of the key factors playing an important role in both the generation and development of various kinds of disease, as well as antibody generation, as many biological paths can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cellular activities can be modulated when ROS/antioxidant balance is interrupted. A pilot study was conducted in two stages during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 involving 222 participants between the ages of 26 and 66 years. ROS levels were measured before an after vaccination in the blood samples of 20 individuals who were vaccinated with two doses of mRNA vaccine, and an increase in ROS levels was observed after the first dose, with no modifications observed until the day before the second vaccination dose. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between time points 3 and 4 (before and after second dose), when participants were vaccinated for the second time, and ROS levels decreased from 21,758 to 17,580 a.u. In the second stage, blood was collected from 28 participants 45 days after COVID-19 infection (Group A), from 131 participants 45 days after receiving two doses of mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 (Group B), and from 13 healthy individuals as a control group (Group C). Additionally, antibodies levels were measured in all groups to investigate a possible correlation with ROS levels. A strong negative correlation was found between free radicals and disease antibodies in Group A (r = −0.45, p = 0.001), especially in the male subgroup (r = −0.88, p = 0.001), as well as in the female subgroup (r = −0.24, p < 0.001). Furthermore, no significant correlation (only a negative trend) was found with antibodies derived from vaccination in Group B (r = −0.01), and a negative trend was observed in the female subgroup, whereas a positive trend was observed in the male subgroup.

The Impact of Serum Levels of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species on the Disease Severity of COVID-19

“…The effect of immunization on ROS levels was documented following vaccination with two doses of mRNA vaccine. It was discovered that a rise in ROS levels was reported after the first dosage, with no changes noted until the day before the second immunization dose [34]. Tissue damage can be caused by excessive inflammation associated with the overproduction of damaging ROS and RNS.…”

Catalase Activity of IgGs of Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2

“…The level of IgG catalase activity of patients who were previously healthy and then vaccinated with Sputnik V (group 2) slightly exceeded the activity values for healthy donors (group 4), which may indicate that Sputnik V vaccination does not cause a significant disruption of the redox balance and immune response in individuals. At the same time, it was shown that vaccination against COVID-19 with mRNA vaccines can lead to an increase in ROS levels [ 52 ]. According to preliminary data, after healthy people’s treatment with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines who had not previously had COVID-19, ROS levels in the blood plasma were observed, which persisted until the second dose, after which ROS levels decreased [ 52 ].…”

“…At the same time, it was shown that vaccination against COVID-19 with mRNA vaccines can lead to an increase in ROS levels [ 52 ]. According to preliminary data, after healthy people’s treatment with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines who had not previously had COVID-19, ROS levels in the blood plasma were observed, which persisted until the second dose, after which ROS levels decreased [ 52 ].…”

“…In vivo, hydrogen peroxide is formed from ROS with superoxide dismutase. In addition to canonical superoxide dismutase, abzymes with superoxide dismutase activity can reduce oxygen from • O 2 − to H 2 O 2 [ 60 , 61 ], while peroxidase and catalase Abs can neutralize hydrogen peroxide [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Taking together, we suggest that the specific repertoire of polyclonal human Abs can serve as an additional natural system of reactive oxygen species detoxification, and Abs can destroy hydrogen peroxide, mutagenic, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds.…”

De novo pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus development following COVID‐19 infection and vaccination: Matched case–control study

“…1,3 Other hypotheses are plausible. For example, COVID-19 infection/vaccination generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), 11 the resulting oxidative stress could promote anti-desmoglein-1/3 and anti-spike synthesis. Indeed, these IgG have antioxidant activity, 12,13 and their production could help neutralize the damage generated by ROS.…”