Systemic and mucosal antibody responses specific to SARS-CoV-2 during mild versus severe COVID-19 - 04/02/21
Abstract |
Background |
Whereas severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibody tests are increasingly being used to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the determinants of these antibody responses remain unclear.
Objectives |
Our aim was to evaluate systemic and mucosal antibody responses toward SARS-CoV-2 in mild versus severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Methods |
Using immunoassays specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, we determined SARS-CoV-2–specific IgA and IgG in sera and mucosal fluids of 2 cohorts, including SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive patients (n = 64) and PCR-positive and PCR-negtive health care workers (n = 109).
Results |
SARS-CoV-2–specific serum IgA titers in patients with mild COVID-19 were often transiently positive, whereas serum IgG titers remained negative or became positive 12 to 14 days after symptom onset. Conversely, patients with severe COVID-19 showed a highly significant increase of SARS-CoV-2–specific serum IgA and IgG titers after symptom onset. Very high titers of SARS-CoV-2–specific serum IgA were correlated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Interestingly, some health care workers with negative SARS-CoV-2–specific serum antibody titers showed SARS-CoV-2–specific IgA in mucosal fluids with virus-neutralizing capacity in some cases. SARS-CoV-2–specific IgA titers in nasal fluids were inversely correlated with age.
Conclusions |
Systemic antibody production against SARS-CoV-2 develops mainly in patients with severe COVID-19, with very high IgA titers seen in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, whereas mild disease may be associated with transient production of SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies but may stimulate mucosal SARS-CoV-2–specific IgA secretion.
Il testo completo di questo articolo è disponibile in PDF.Graphical abstract |
Key words : COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies, SARS-CoV-2–specific IgA, SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG, humoral immune response, mucosal immune response, COVID-19 severity, COVID-19 seroprevalence
Abbreviations used : ACE2, ARDS, COVID-19, Ct, ECD, HCW, IQR, RBD, RT-qPCR, S, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2
Mappa
This work was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant 4078P0-198431 [to O.B. and J.N.] and grant 310030-172978 [to O.B.]), Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences fellowships (No. 323530-191220 [to C.C.], No. 323530-191230 [to Y.Z.], and No. 323530-177975 [to S.A.]), a Young Talents in Clinical Research Fellowship by the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences and Bangerter Foundation (No. YTCR 32/18 [to M.R.]), the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung through Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (No. 01KI2077 [to G.K.]), the Clinical Research Priority Program of University of Zurich for CRPP CYTIMM-Z (to O.B.), the Pandemic Fund of University of Zurich (to O.B.), and an Innovation Grant of University Hospital Zurich (to O.B.). |
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Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest. |
Vol 147 - N° 2
P. 545 - Febbraio 2021 Ritorno al numeroBenvenuto su EM|consulte, il riferimento dei professionisti della salute.