Persistence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in COVID-19 patients.

Abstract

To better understand humoral immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, 114 hospitalised COVID-19 patients with antibody monitored over 8 weeks from symptom onset were retrospectively investigated. A total of 445 serum samples were assessed via chemiluminescence immunoassay. Positive rate of virus-specific IgM reached up to over 80% from the second week to the eighth week after symptom onset, then declined quickly to below 30% in the twelfth week. Concentrations of IgG remained high for at least 3 months before subsequently declining. As compared with the non-severe group, serum IgM level from week 3 to week 8 was significantly higher among the patients with severe clinical symptoms (P = 0.012) but not IgG (P = 0.053). Serum IgM level from week 3 to week 8 was correlated with positive virus RNA test (r = 0.201, P = 0.044), albumin level (r = -0.295, P = 0.003), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level (r = 0.292, P = 0.003), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level (r = 0.254, P = 0.010), C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r = 0.281, P = 0.004) during the same course, while serum IgG level was correlated with age (r = 0.207, P = 0.038). This presented results provide insight into duration of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and interaction between the virus and host systems.

• Authors: Yanan Wang, Jingjing Li, Huijun Li, Ping Lei, Guanxin Shen, Chunguang Yang
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 90 Pg. 107271 (Jan 2021) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33310664 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• RNA, Viral
• Serum Albumin
• C-Reactive Protein
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase

Topics

• Aged
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• COVID-19 (blood, immunology, virology)
• Female
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• RNA, Viral (analysis)
• Retrospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2
• Serum Albumin (analysis)
• Severity of Illness Index