Frontiers in Immunology (Aug 2021)
Occurrence of COVID-19 Symptoms During SARS-CoV-2 Infection Defines Waning of Humoral Immunity
- Jun Wu,
- Jun Wu,
- Bo-Yun Liang,
- Bo-Yun Liang,
- Yao-Hui Fang,
- Hua Wang,
- Hua Wang,
- Xiao-Li Yang,
- Xiao-Li Yang,
- Shu Shen,
- Liang-Kai Chen,
- Su-Meng Li,
- Su-Meng Li,
- Si-Hong Lu,
- Si-Hong Lu,
- Tian-Dan Xiang,
- Tian-Dan Xiang,
- Jia Liu,
- Jia Liu,
- Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling,
- Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling,
- Meng-Ji Lu,
- Meng-Ji Lu,
- Dong-Liang Yang,
- Dong-Liang Yang,
- Fei Deng,
- Ulf Dittmer,
- Ulf Dittmer,
- Mirko Trilling,
- Mirko Trilling,
- Xin Zheng,
- Xin Zheng
Affiliations
- Jun Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Jun Wu
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Bo-Yun Liang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Bo-Yun Liang
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Yao-Hui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Hua Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hua Wang
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Xiao-Li Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Xiao-Li Yang
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Shu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Liang-Kai Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Su-Meng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Su-Meng Li
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Si-Hong Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Si-Hong Lu
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Tian-Dan Xiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Tian-Dan Xiang
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Jia Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Jia Liu
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Meng-Ji Lu
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Meng-Ji Lu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Dong-Liang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Dong-Liang Yang
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Ulf Dittmer
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Mirko Trilling
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Mirko Trilling
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Xin Zheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Xin Zheng
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.722027
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 12
Abstract
Approximately half of the SARS-CoV-2 infections occur without apparent symptoms, raising questions regarding long-term humoral immunity in asymptomatic individuals. Plasma levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) against the viral spike or nucleoprotein were determined for 25,091 individuals enrolled in a surveillance program in Wuhan, China. We compared 405 asymptomatic individuals who mounted a detectable antibody response with 459 symptomatic COVID-19 patients. The well-defined duration of the SARS-CoV-2 endemic in Wuhan allowed a side-by-side comparison of antibody responses following symptomatic and asymptomatic infections without subsequent antigen re-exposure. IgM responses rapidly declined in both groups. However, both the prevalence and durability of IgG responses and neutralizing capacities correlated positively with symptoms. Regardless of sex, age, and body weight, asymptomatic individuals lost their SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies more often and rapidly than symptomatic patients did. These findings have important implications for immunity and favour immunization programs including individuals after asymptomatic infections.
Keywords