Mast Cells

There is a need to develop technological platforms capable of generating human data prior to progressing to clinical trials. Our research introduces a flexible solution designed for the comprehensive monitoring of the natural human skin ecosystem’s response to vaccines over time.

Method: Our platform leverages bioengineering techniques to repurpose surgical resections, enabling a comprehensive analysis of vaccine responses at both organ and single-cell levels. This method allows us to track the presence of Spike mRNA in various immune and structural compartments within the skin.
Key Findings: Upon injection of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, we observed significant levels of vaccine mRNA in mast cells and, to a lesser extent, in DC/macrophages. This was consistent across different administration routes, indicating a natural affinity of LNP-loaded mRNA vaccines for these cell types.
The findings suggest that mast cells play a crucial role in the skin’s response to mRNA vaccines. This insight provides a multiscale vision of skin vaccination, which could inform the development of new vaccination strategies.

Our study highlights the importance of mast cells in the response to the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine. The platform we developed offers a direct translational relevance and a new perspective on skin vaccination strategies.

Poster presented at the European Mast cell & Basophil Research Network meeting 2024.