Affiliation:
1. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
2. Virology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
3. Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
4. Azienda Ospedaliero‐Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I Rome Italy
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionConsidering the reported efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the Spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in reducing disease severity, the aim of this study was to investigate the innate immune response before and after mAbs treatment in 72 vaccinated and 31 unvaccinated SARS‐CoV‐2 patients.MethodsThe mRNA levels of IFN‐I, IFN‐related genes and cytokines were evaluated using RT/real‐time quantitative PCR.ResultsVaccinated patients showed increased rate of negative SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR tests on nasopharyngeal swab compared with unvaccinated ones after mAbs treatment (p = .002). Unvaccinated patients had lower IFN‐α/ω and higher IFN‐related genes (IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IRF9, ISG15, ISG56 and IFI27) and cytokines (IL‐6, IL‐10 and TGF‐β) mRNA levels compared to vaccinated individuals before mAbs (p < .05 for all genes). Increased IFN‐α/ω, IFNAR1, IFNAR2 and IRF9 levels were observed in unvaccinated patients after mAbs treatment, while the mRNA expression ISGs and IL‐10 were reduced in all patients.ConclusionThese data suggest that anti‐S vaccinated patients have increased levels of innate immune genes compared to unvaccinated ones. Also, gene expression changes in IFN genes after mAbs administration are different according to the vaccination status of patients.
Subject
Immunology,Immunology and Allergy
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