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Evidence for increased SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity related to pre-existing immunity to seasonal coronaviruses.
- Source :
-
Cell reports [Cell Rep] 2021 Dec 28; Vol. 37 (13), pp. 110169. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 07. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The importance of pre-existing immune responses to seasonal endemic coronaviruses (HCoVs) for the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the course of COVID-19 is the subject of an ongoing scientific debate. Recent studies postulate that immune responses to previous HCoV infections can either have a slightly protective or no effect on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and, consequently, be neglected for COVID-19 risk stratification. Challenging this notion, we provide evidence that pre-existing, anti-nucleocapsid antibodies against endemic α-coronaviruses and S2 domain-specific anti-spike antibodies against β-coronavirus HCoV-OC43 are elevated in patients with COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic donors. This finding is particularly pronounced in males and in critically ill patients. Longitudinal evaluation reveals that antibody cross-reactivity or polyclonal stimulation by SARS-CoV-2 infection are unlikely to be confounders. Thus, specific pre-existing immunity to seasonal coronaviruses may increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and predispose individuals to an adverse COVID-19 outcome, guiding risk management and supporting the development of universal coronavirus vaccines.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of interests N.S.-M. was a speaker at Luminex user meetings in the past. The Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen is involved in applied research projects as a fee for services with Luminex. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Antibodies immunology
Antibodies, Viral immunology
COVID-19 etiology
Coronavirus Infections immunology
Coronavirus OC43, Human immunology
Coronavirus OC43, Human pathogenicity
Cross Reactions immunology
Female
Germany
Humans
Immunity, Humoral immunology
Immunoglobulin G immunology
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity
Seasons
Severity of Illness Index
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus immunology
COVID-19 immunology
Coronavirus immunology
SARS-CoV-2 immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2211-1247
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 13
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Cell reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34932974
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110169