Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/therapy , Humans , Immunization, Passive , SARS-CoV-2 , Treatment Outcome , Vaccination , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a high prevalence of RBC alloimmunization. However, underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Given that proinflammatory type 1 interferons (IFNα/ß) and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) promote alloimmunization in mice, we hypothesized that IFNα/ß may contribute to the increased frequency of alloimmunization in patients with SCD. To investigate this, expression of ISGs in blood leukocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of previously transfused SCD patients with or without alloimmunization and race-matched healthy controls were quantified, and IFNα/ß gene scores were calculated. IFNα/ß gene scores of SCD leukocytes and plasma cytokines were elevated, compared to controls (gene score, p < 0.01). Upon stimulation with IFNß, isolated PBMCs from patients with SCD had elevated ISGs and IFNα/ß gene scores (p < 0.05), compared to stimulated PBMCs from controls. However, IFNß-stimulated and unstimulated ISG expression did not significantly differ between alloimmunized and non-alloimmunized patients. These findings indicate that patients with SCD express an IFNα/ß gene signature, and larger studies are needed to fully determine its role in alloimmunization. Further, illustration of altered IFNα/ß responses in SCD has potential implications for IFNα/ß-mediated viral immunity, responses to IFNα/ß-based therapies, and other sequelae of SCD.
ABSTRACT
Development of antibody protection during SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) infection is a pressing question for public health and for vaccine development. We developed highly sensitive CoV-2-specific antibody and neutralization assays. CoV-2 Spike protein or Nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies at titers more than 1:100,000 were detectable in all PCR+ subjects (n=87) and were absent in the negative controls. Other isotype antibodies (IgA, IgG1-4) were also detected. CoV-2 neutralization was determined in COVID-19 and convalescent plasma up to 10,000-fold dilution, using Spike protein pseudotyped lentiviruses, which was also blocked by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Hospitalized patients had up to 3000-fold higher antibody and neutralization titers compared to outpatients or convalescent plasma donors. Further, subjects who donated plasma further out from the diagnosis of COVID-19 appeared to have lower titers. Interestingly, some COVID-19 patients also contained NAbs against SARS Spike protein pseudovirus. Together these results demonstrate the high specificity and sensitivity of our assays, which may impact understanding the quality or duration of the antibody response during COVID-19 and in determining the effectiveness of potential vaccines.
Subject(s)
Blood Banks , Blood Donors , Blood Donors/supply & distribution , Blood Safety , Blood Transfusion , Humans , United StatesABSTRACT
Development of antibody protection during SARS-CoV-2 infection is a pressing question for public health and for vaccine development. We developed highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and neutralization assays. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein or Nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies at titers more than 1:100,000 were detectable in all PCR+ subjects (n = 115) and were absent in the negative controls. Other isotype antibodies (IgA, IgG1-4) were also detected. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization was determined in COVID-19 and convalescent plasma at up to 10,000-fold dilution, using Spike protein pseudotyped lentiviruses, which were also blocked by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Hospitalized patients had up to 3000-fold higher antibody and neutralization titers compared to outpatients or convalescent plasma donors. Interestingly, some COVID-19 patients also possessed NAbs against SARS-CoV Spike protein pseudovirus. Together these results demonstrate the high specificity and sensitivity of our assays, which may impact understanding the quality or duration of the antibody response during COVID-19 and in determining the effectiveness of potential vaccines.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry , Antibodies, Viral/chemistry , COVID-19/diagnosis , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/chemistry , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Adult , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/chemistry , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism , Antibodies, Neutralizing/biosynthesis , Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Convalescence , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/immunology , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Epitopes/chemistry , Epitopes/immunology , Epitopes/metabolism , Female , Genetic Vectors/chemistry , Genetic Vectors/metabolism , Humans , Immune Sera/chemistry , Immunity, Humoral , Lentivirus/genetics , Lentivirus/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Neutralization Tests , Phosphoproteins/chemistry , Phosphoproteins/immunology , Phosphoproteins/metabolism , Protein Binding , Receptors, Virus/chemistry , Receptors, Virus/immunology , Receptors, Virus/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Severity of Illness Index , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
Development of antibody protection during SARS-CoV-2 infection is a pressing question for public health and for vaccine development. We developed highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and neutralization assays. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein or Nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies at titers more than 1:100,000 were detectable in all PCR+ subjects (n=115) and were absent in the negative controls. Other isotype antibodies (IgA, IgG1-4) were also detected. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization was determined in COVID-19 and convalescent plasma at up to 10,000-fold dilution, using Spike protein pseudotyped lentiviruses, which were also blocked by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Hospitalized patients had up to 3000-fold higher antibody and neutralization titers compared to outpatients or convalescent plasma donors. Interestingly, some COVID-19 patients also possessed NAbs against SARS-CoV Spike protein pseudovirus. Together these results demonstrate the high specificity and sensitivity of our assays, which may impact understanding the quality or duration of the antibody response during COVID-19 and in determining the effectiveness of potential vaccines.