The effect of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine on human lung carcinoma cells in vitro by means of Raman spectroscopy and imaging.

The effect of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine on human lung carcinoma epithelial cells (A549) in vitro as a convenient preclinical model has been studied by means of Raman spectroscopy and imaging. The paper focuses on Raman imaging as a tool to explore apoptosis and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondrial dysfunctions. The Raman results demonstrate alterations in the oxidation-reduction pathways associated with cytochrome c. We found that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine downregulates the concentration of cytochrome c upon incubation with tumorous lung cells. Concentration of oxidized form of cytochrome c in mitochondria of lung cells decreases upon incubation the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Lower concentration of oxidized cytochrome c in mitochondria illustrates lower effectiveness of oxidative phosphorylation (respiration), reduced apoptosis and lessened ATP production. Moreover, mRNA vaccine increases significantly de novo lipids synthesis in lipid droplets up to 96 hours and alterations in biochemical composition. It seems that lipid composition of cells returns to the normal level for longer incubation time (14 days). In cell nucleus the mRNA vaccine does not produce statistically significant changes. The observed alterations in biochemical profiles upon incubation with mRNA vaccine in the specific organelles of the tumorous lung cells are similar to those we observe for other types of cancers, particularly brain glial cells.