Seasonal Coronavirus-specific B Cells with Limited SARS-CoV-2 Cross-reactivity Dominate the IgG Response in Severe COVID-19

Overview

Journal J Clin Invest

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Sep 9

PMID 34499051

Citations 34

Authors

Muriel Aguilar-Bretones

Brenda M Westerhuis

Matthijs P Raadsen

Erwin de Bruin

Felicity D Chandler

Nisreen Ma Okba

Bart L Haagmans

Thomas Langerak

Henrik Endeman

Johannes Pc van den Akker

Diederik Ampj Gommers

Eric Cm van Gorp

Corine H GeurtsvanKessel

Rory D de Vries

Ron Am Fouchier

Barry Hg Rockx

Marion Pg Koopmans

Gijsbert P van Nierop

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about the interplay between preexisting immunity to endemic seasonal coronaviruses and the development of a SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG response. We investigated the kinetics, breadth, magnitude, and level of cross-reactivity of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and heterologous seasonal and epidemic coronaviruses at the clonal level in patients with mild or severe COVID-19 as well as in disease control patients. We assessed antibody reactivity to nucleocapsid and spike antigens and correlated this IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 neutralization. Patients with COVID-19 mounted a mostly type-specific SARS-CoV-2 response. Additionally, IgG clones directed against a seasonal coronavirus were boosted in patients with severe COVID-19. These boosted clones showed limited cross-reactivity and did not neutralize SARS-CoV-2. These findings indicate a boost of poorly protective CoV-specific antibodies in patients with COVID-19 that correlated with disease severity, revealing "original antigenic sin."

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