News: Roles of different anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 disease and protection - FAIS Africa

May 12, 2020 | Roles of different anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 disease and protection | Immunopaedia.org.za

COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 update from Immunopaedia.org.za.

Which proteins do IgM and IgG antibodies recognise on the SARS-CoV-2 virus? Can these antibodies provide protection or facilitate inflammation and disease progression? The simple answer is that we don’t yet know, but a thoughtful commentary in Nature Reviews Immunology asked about the “potential danger of suboptimal antibody responses in COVID-19”. IgM is the first antibody to emerge rapidly after any infection, including viral infections, but IgM may initially also promote early inflammation through activation of the complement pathway. Initiation of inflammatory pathways is undoubtedly good to kick-start the immune response – but possibly catastrophic in some people who progress to COVID-19. Neutralizing IgG antibodies are good candidates for providing protective immunity, but also there is a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). ADE is where pre-existing SARS-CoV-specific antibodies could promote viral entry into FcR-expressing cells, independently of ACE2 expression (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2). Fc receptors (FcRs) are expressed on a wide variety of immune cells, including those which are involved in antigen presentation and antibody production: monocytes, macrophages and B cells. Antibody concentrations appear to be crucial in determining their role and protective versus pathogenic antibodies need to be considered in approaches to vaccine design and immunization delivery.

Journal Article: Iwasaki and Yang. The potential danger of suboptimal antibody responses in COVID-19. Nature Reviews Immunology

SOURCE: www.immunopaedia.org.za/breaking-news/roles-of-different-anti-sars-cov-2-antibodies-in-covid-19-disease-and-protection