Differential expression of type I interferon and inflammatory genes in
SARS-CoV-2 infected patients treated with monoclonal antibodies
Abstract
Considering the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed
against the Spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in reducing disease severity, the aim of this
study was to investigate the innate immune response before and after
mAbs treatment in 72 vaccinated and 31 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 patients.
Type I interferon (IFN-I) signature and cytokines genes were evaluated
by real time RT-PCR. The vaccinated patients had increased negative rate
of SARS-CoV-2 RT/real-time PCR tests as compared to unvaccinated ones
after mAbs treatment. Unvaccinated patients but also those that resulted
negative for serum anti-S antibodies despite vaccination had lower IFN-I
and higher IFN-I related genes and cytokines mRNAs levels as compared to
vaccinated individuals before mAbs. In addition, patients with low
anti-S antibody titer showed immune genes expression levels between
those found in negative and patients with high titer of anti-S
antibodies. Changes in IFN-I pathway and cytokines levels were observed
in unvaccinated patients after mAbs treatment, while the expression of
most of the type I IFN genes and cytokines analysed, except for ISGs and
IL-10 mRNAs, remained unchanged vaccinated patients. These data suggest
that mAbs treatment is associated to a different virological and
immunological response in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients according to
their vaccination status and related anti-S antibodies titers.