Altered COVID-19 immunity in children with asthma by atopic status

Sherry Tong, BS; Jordan C. Scott, BS; Enwono Eyoh, PhD; Derek W. Werthmann, PhD; Addison E. Stone, BS; Amelie E. Murrell, BS; Gilberto Sabino-Santos, PhD; Ivy V. Trinh, BS; Sruti Chandra, PhD; Debra H. Elliott, BS; Ashley R. Smira, BS; Jalene V. Velazquez, BS; John Schieffelin, MD; Bo Ning, PhD; Tony Hu, PhD; Jay K. Kolls, MD; Samuel J. Landry, PhD; Kevin J. Zwezdaryk, PhD; James E. Robinson, MD; Bronwyn M. Gunn, PhD; Felicia A. Rabito, PhD; Elizabeth B. Norton, PhD

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global (May 2024)

Altered COVID-19 immunity in children with asthma by atopic status

Sherry Tong, BS,
Jordan C. Scott, BS,
Enwono Eyoh, PhD,
Derek W. Werthmann, PhD,
Addison E. Stone, BS,
Amelie E. Murrell, BS,
Gilberto Sabino-Santos, PhD,
Ivy V. Trinh, BS,
Sruti Chandra, PhD,
Debra H. Elliott, BS,
Ashley R. Smira, BS,
Jalene V. Velazquez, BS,
John Schieffelin, MD,
Bo Ning, PhD,
Tony Hu, PhD,
Jay K. Kolls, MD,
Samuel J. Landry, PhD,
Kevin J. Zwezdaryk, PhD,
James E. Robinson, MD,
Bronwyn M. Gunn, PhD,
Felicia A. Rabito, PhD,
Elizabeth B. Norton, PhD

Affiliations

Sherry Tong, BS: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Jordan C. Scott, BS: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Enwono Eyoh, PhD: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Derek W. Werthmann, PhD: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, La
Addison E. Stone, BS: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Amelie E. Murrell, BS: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Gilberto Sabino-Santos, PhD: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Ivy V. Trinh, BS: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Sruti Chandra, PhD: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Debra H. Elliott, BS: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Ashley R. Smira, BS: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Jalene V. Velazquez, BS: Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash
John Schieffelin, MD: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Bo Ning, PhD: Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Tony Hu, PhD: Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Jay K. Kolls, MD: Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Samuel J. Landry, PhD: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Kevin J. Zwezdaryk, PhD: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
James E. Robinson, MD: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La
Bronwyn M. Gunn, PhD: Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash
Felicia A. Rabito, PhD: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, La
Elizabeth B. Norton, PhD: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La; Corresponding author: Elizabeth B. Norton, PhD, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 2
p. 100236

Abstract

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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes a spectrum of clinical outcomes that may be complicated by severe asthma. Antiviral immunity is often compromised in patients with asthma; however, whether this is true for SARS-CoV-2 immunity and children is unknown. Objective: We aimed to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 immunity in children with asthma on the basis of infection or vaccination history and compared to respiratory syncytial viral or allergen (eg, cockroach, dust mite)-specific immunity. Methods: Fifty-three children from an urban asthma study were evaluated for medical history, lung function, and virus- or allergen-specific immunity using antibody or T-cell assays. Results: Polyclonal antibody responses to spike were observed in most children from infection and/or vaccination history. Children with atopic asthma or high allergen-specific IgE, particularly to dust mites, exhibited reduced seroconversion, antibody magnitude, and SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. TH1 responses to SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus correlated with antigen-respective IgG. Cockroach-specific T-cell activation as well as IL-17A and IL-21 cytokines negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and effector functions, distinct from total and dust mite IgE. Allergen-specific IgE and lack of vaccination were associated with recent health care utilization. Reduced lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second ≤ 80%) was independently associated with (SARS-CoV-2) peptide-induced cytokines, including IL-31, whereas poor asthma control was associated with cockroach-specific cytokine responses. Conclusion: Mechanisms underpinning atopic and nonatopic asthma may complicate the development of memory to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination and lead to a higher risk of repeated infection in these children.

Published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global

ISSN: 2772-8293 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology-global

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