Proteomic Analysis of Mucosal and Systemic Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Antigen
Neil Martinson,
Bhavna Gordhan,
Stefan Petkov,
Azure-Dee Pillay,
Thabiso Seiphetlo,
Natasha Singh,
Kennedy Otwombe,
Limakatso Lebina,
Claudia Fredolini,
Francesca Chiodi,
Julie Fox,
Bavesh Kana,
Carolina Herrera
Affiliations
Neil Martinson
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Bhavna Gordhan
Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Stefan Petkov
Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Solna, Sweden
Azure-Dee Pillay
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Thabiso Seiphetlo
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Natasha Singh
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Kennedy Otwombe
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Limakatso Lebina
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Claudia Fredolini
Affinity Proteomics Stockholm, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 65 Solna, Sweden
Francesca Chiodi
Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Solna, Sweden
Julie Fox
Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
Bavesh Kana
Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Carolina Herrera
Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
The mucosal environment of the upper respiratory tract is the first barrier of protection against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, the mucosal factors involved in viral transmission and potentially modulating the capacity to prevent such transmission have not fully been identified. In this pilot proteomics study, we compared mucosal and systemic compartments in a South African cohort of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals undergoing maxillofacial surgery with previous history of COVID-19 or not. Inflammatory profiles were analyzed in plasma, nasopharyngeal swabs, and nasal and oral tissue explant cultures, using Olink and Luminex technologies. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels were measured in serum and tissue explants. An increased pro-inflammatory proteomic profile was measured in the nasal compartment compared to plasma. However, IP-10 and MIG levels were higher in secretions than in nasal tissue, and the opposite was observed for TGF-β. Nasal anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG correlated with mucosal MIG expression for all participants. A further positive correlation was found with IP-10 in BioNTech/Pfizer-vaccinated individuals. Systemic levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG elicited by this vaccine correlated with plasma IL-10, IL-6 and HBD4. Proteomic profiles measured in mucosal tissues and secretions using combined technologies could reveal correlates of protection at the mucosal portals of viral entry.
