SARS-CoV-2 infection results in immune responses in the respiratory tract and peripheral blood that suggest mechanisms of disease severity
Journal Title
Nature Communications
Publication Type
Research article
Abstract
Respiratory tract infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in varying immunopathology underlying COVID-19. We examine cellular, humoral and cytokine responses covering 382 immune components in longitudinal blood and respiratory samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM, IgG, IgA are detected in respiratory tract and blood, however, receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgM and IgG seroconversion is enhanced in respiratory specimens. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity in respiratory samples correlates with RBD-specific IgM and IgG levels. Cytokines/chemokines vary between respiratory samples and plasma, indicating that inflammation should be assessed in respiratory specimens to understand immunopathology. IFN-alpha2 and IL-12p70 in endotracheal aspirate and neutralization in sputum negatively correlate with duration of hospital stay. Diverse immune subsets are detected in respiratory samples, dominated by neutrophils. Importantly, dexamethasone treatment does not affect humoral responses in blood of COVID-19 patients. Our study unveils differential immune responses between respiratory samples and blood, and shows how drug therapy affects immune responses during COVID-19.
Keywords
Antibodies, Viral; *covid-19; Humans; Immunity; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Respiratory System; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Department(s)
Infectious Diseases
PubMed ID
35589689
Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30088-y
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


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