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 epithelial carcinoma cells (A549) in vitro as a convenient preclinical model was studied by means of Raman spectroscopy and imaging. The article 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. The concentration of the oxidized form of cytochrome c in the mitochondria of lung cells decreases upon incubation with the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. A lower concentration of oxidized cytochrome c in mitochondria illustrates lower effectiveness of oxidative phosphorylation (respiration), reduced apoptosis, and lessened ATP production. Moreover, mRNA vaccine significantly increases de novo lipids synthesis in lipid droplets up to 96 h and alterations in biochemical composition. It seems that the lipid composition of cells returns to the normal level for a longer incubation time (14 days). In the cell nucleus, the mRNA vaccine does not produce statistically significant changes.