Decay of Fc-dependent antibody functions after mild to moderate COVID-19

Wen Shi Lee; Kevin John Selva; Samantha K. Davis; Bruce D. Wines; Arnold Reynaldi; Robyn Esterbauer; Hannah G. Kelly; Ebene R. Haycroft; Hyon-Xhi Tan; Jennifer A. Juno; Adam K. Wheatley; P. Mark Hogarth; Deborah Cromer; Miles P. Davenport; Amy W. Chung; Stephen J. Kent

Cell Reports Medicine (Jun 2021)

Decay of Fc-dependent antibody functions after mild to moderate COVID-19

Wen Shi Lee,
Kevin John Selva,
Samantha K. Davis,
Bruce D. Wines,
Arnold Reynaldi,
Robyn Esterbauer,
Hannah G. Kelly,
Ebene R. Haycroft,
Hyon-Xhi Tan,
Jennifer A. Juno,
Adam K. Wheatley,
P. Mark Hogarth,
Deborah Cromer,
Miles P. Davenport,
Amy W. Chung,
Stephen J. Kent

Affiliations

Wen Shi Lee: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Kevin John Selva: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Samantha K. Davis: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Bruce D. Wines: Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Arnold Reynaldi: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
Robyn Esterbauer: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Hannah G. Kelly: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Ebene R. Haycroft: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Hyon-Xhi Tan: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Jennifer A. Juno: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Adam K. Wheatley: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
P. Mark Hogarth: Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Deborah Cromer: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
Miles P. Davenport: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
Amy W. Chung: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Corresponding author
Stephen J. Kent: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 6
p. 100296

Abstract

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Summary: The capacity of antibodies to engage with immune cells via the Fc region is important in preventing and controlling many infectious diseases. The evolution of such antibodies during convalescence from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is largely unknown. We develop assays to measure Fc-dependent antibody functions against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S)-expressing cells in serial samples from subjects primarily with mild-moderate COVID-19 up to 149 days post-infection. We find that S-specific antibodies capable of engaging Fcγ receptors decay over time, with S-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADP) activity within plasma declining accordingly. Although there is significant decay in ADCC and ADP activity, they remain readily detectable in almost all subjects at the last time point studied (94%) in contrast with neutralization activity (70%). Although it remains unclear the degree to which Fc effector functions contribute to protection against SARS-CoV-2 re-infection, our results indicate that antibodies with Fc effector functions persist longer than neutralizing antibodies.

Published in Cell Reports Medicine

ISSN: 2666-3791 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine

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