Joseph C. answered • 12/07/20
Professor/MD specializing in A&P, medical sciences and test prep
Hey Doron,
Yes the antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are most likely attacked and degraded but this does not pose a problem because that is a step in all vaccinations. This would be the inflammation or fatigue that a person has after getting a vaccination, you do not actually get sick with the virus you are just feeling the results of the antigens you have created in your body.
Now as there are no actual mRNA vaccines on the market at this point, I am sure we cannot say in all certainty there won't an issue but we have been studying mRNA effects for over a decade. The mRNA vaccines are consider a great future as the RNA sequence that is injected into the body is degraded after the proteins are made in the cells and that could be done in a matter of hours. This then poses the issue of how many booster shots will be needed and if it can sustain a high amount of memory cells to be functional if/when a person does get the actual infection.
I hope that answers the question but feel free to reach out if you want to discuss more or I did not answer your full question.
Joseph C.
The major difference is that DNA and RNA vaccines utilize the ability to make the protein or "spike" protein as they call it inside our own cells. This way we are not injecting any of the actual virus into our bodies, just the protein is produced and that is displayed on an APC and antibodies will be made. Other types of vaccines the antigen is presented and can have an external vector causing the body to react. But don't forget that cells such as macrophages are APCs, so they can and will engulf and display the antigen on their surface or the virus enters the cell. This happens in the lymph nodes around the site of the injection. But there are many types of vaccinations, so all will be slightly different in how they cause the body to elicit a response.12/07/20
Doron J.
Thank you for your answer. As I understand it, the mRNA vaccines are unique since the ACPs that are attacked are the bodys own cells, whereas in conventional vaccines the antigens are presented, and attacked, on external vectors. Is this correct ? If so, maybe the amount of body cells attacked is not significant?Thanks again for your help.12/07/20