A document by Faruk DİŞLİ. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: In SARS-CoV-2 infection, in addition to the production of virus-specific antibodies, autoantibodies can also be produced, which attack self-structures and worsen the prognosis. We hypothesized that overproduction of virus-specific antibodies may also trigger autoantibody production. Methods: To test this hypothesis, the antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity rate was examined in samples with high and low (i.e., negative) anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. A quantitative ELISA test kit with a dynamic measurement range of 1-475 RU/mL was used to determine Sars-CoV-2 antibodies. In the high SARS-CoV-2 antibody criterion, it was required to have the last quarter antibody level (>235 RU/mL) in the ELISA calibration curve. For low antibody levels, the requirement was <15 RU/mL. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels of 1222 samples were examined and 62 (33 men, 29 women) samples were determined to have high antibodies (high group; HG). Among the samples with low antibody levels, 62 gender-matched samples were selected by randomization (low group; LG). ANA positivity was analyzed with 3 different commercial ELISA test kits (anti-dsDNA, anti-ENA, anti-Hep-2 nucleus; Y immunoTEK, Turkey). Total IgG levels were also measured to evaluate the difference in total antibody levels. Results: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were 413 ± 72 RU/mL and 3.8 ± 1.4 RU/mL for HG and LG, respectively (p<0.001). The ANA positivity rate was found to be significantly higher in HG than in LG (anti-dsDNA 9/62, 14.5% - 19/62, 30.7%; anti- ENA 10/62, 16.1% - 22/62, 35.5%; anti- Hep-2 nükleus 8/62, 12.9% - 20/62, 32.3% respectively). There was no difference between total IgG levels (HG; 11.1 ± 3.0 and LG; 10.6 ± 3.4 mg/mL) (p>0.05). Conclusions: As a result, it was determined that high levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibody production were associated with the formation of ANA. This suggests that SARS-CoV-2 antibody and ANA production have similar mechanisms or pathways.

Objective: The severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting COVID-19 pandemic pose significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and recurrent infections. Literature data suggest that age, gender and BMI factors are associated with immune response. The first aim of the study was to analyze the change in antibody titer at 15-day intervals until 60 days post symptom onset (PSO) The second aim was to analyze relationship between antibody titer and symptom grade, gender, age, BMI, therapeutic drugs, vitamin supplements, and herbal therapies. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from 43 patients (5 mild, 21 moderate, 17 severe diseases), 18 women (41.9 %), and 25 men (58.1 %), on 15, 30, 45, and 60 days PSO after COVID-19 infection. The serum antibody titers were determined by measuring the COVID-19 IgG antibodies by ELISA. Associations between the duration of symptoms, demographic and clinical parameters, medications and vitamins used, and herbal therapies were evaluated by interviewing the participants. Results: Within the first 15 days of illness, 81.4% of the patients were positive. From day 45 PSO, seropositivity was 89.5%. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were statistically higher in men than women at all-time (p<0.01). Antibody titer was higher in older participants compared to younger participants (p<0.02). Plaquenil or Favipiravir use did not effect antibody response (p>0.05). Men had higher fever (p=0.006), shortness of breath (p=0.004), and chest pain (p=0.03) than women. Conclusion: We found powerful antibody response by sixty days PSO, as well as higher antibody response and severity of symptoms in men gender. Data also showed that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are higher in individuals with older age, whereas BMI, coexisting chronic disease, and drug used had no effect on antibody titers.