Decreased Levels of SARS-CoV-2 Fusion-Inhibitory Antibodies in the Serum of Aged COVID-19 Patients
Astrid Malézieux-Picard,
Fabien Abdul,
François R. Herrmann,
Aurélie Caillon,
Pascale Ribaux,
Yves Cambet,
Sabine Yerly,
Stéphanie Baggio,
Nathalie Vernaz,
Dina Zekry,
Karl-Heinz Krause,
Olivier Preynat-Seauve,
Virginie Prendki
Affiliations
Astrid Malézieux-Picard
Division of Internal Medicine for the Aged, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, 3 Chemin du Pont-Bochet, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
Fabien Abdul
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
François R. Herrmann
Division of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, 3 Chemin du Pont-Bochet, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
Aurélie Caillon
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Pascale Ribaux
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Yves Cambet
Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Sabine Yerly
Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Stéphanie Baggio
Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Nathalie Vernaz
Medical Directorate, Finance Directorate, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Dina Zekry
Division of Internal Medicine for the Aged, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, 3 Chemin du Pont-Bochet, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
Karl-Heinz Krause
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Olivier Preynat-Seauve
Department of Diagnostics, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Virginie Prendki
Division of Internal Medicine for the Aged, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, 3 Chemin du Pont-Bochet, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was particularly devastating for elderly people, and the underlying mechanisms of the disease are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated fusion inhibitory antibodies (fiAbs) in elderly and younger COVID-19 patients and analyzed predictive factors for their occurrence. Methods: Data and samples were collected in two cohorts of hospitalized patients. A fusion assay of SARS-CoV-2 spike-expressing cells with ACE2-expressing cells was used to quantify fiAbs in the serum of patients. Results: A total of 108 patients (52 elderly (mean age 85 ± 7 years); 56 young (mean age 52 ± 10 years)) were studied. The concentrations of fiAbs were lower in geriatric patients, as evidenced at high serum dilutions (1/512). The association between fiAbs and anti-Spike Ig levels was weak (correlation coefficient p p = 0.035), and WHO severity score (HR = −6.01, p = 0.048). Conclusions: Elderly patients had lower fiAbs levels after COVID-19 infection. The decreased fiAbs levels were associated with frailty.
