Age-related Differences in Immune Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Antigens

Morhart P, Kehl S, Schuh W, Hermes K, Meltendorf S, Neubert A, Schneider M, Brunner-Weinzierl M, Schneider H, Lingel H (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

In Vivo International Institute of Anticancer Research (IIAR)

Book Volume: 37

Pages Range: 70-78

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13055

Abstract

Background/Aim: The manifestation and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections show a clear correlation to the age of a patient. The younger a person, the less likely the infection results in significant illness. To explore the immunological characteristics behind this phenomenon, we studied the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections in 11 households, including 8 children and 6 infants/neonates of women who got infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: We investigated the immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCBCs), and T cells against spike and nucleocapsid antigens of SARS-COV-2 by flow cytometry and cytokine secretion assays. Results: Upon peptide stimulation, UCBC from neonates showed a strongly reduced IFN-γ production, as well as lower levels of IL-5, IL-13, and TNF-α alongside with decreased frequencies of surface CD137/PD-1 co-expressing CD4+ and CD+8 T cells compared with adult PBMCs. The PBMC response of older children instead was characterized by elevated frequencies of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells, but significantly lower levels of multiple cytokines (IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-17A, and TNF-α) and a marked shift of the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio towards CD8+ T cells in comparison to adults. Conclusion: The increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in adults could result from the strong cytokine production and lower potential to immunomodulate the excessive inflammation, while the limited IFN-γ production of responding T cells in infants/neonates and the additional higher frequencies of CD8+ T cells in older children may provide advantages during the course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sven Kehl Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Wolfgang Schuh Department of Molecular Immunology Antje Neubert Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Michael Schneider Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Holm Schneider Professur für Kinderheilkunde/Experimentelle Perinatalmedizin

Involved external institutions

Klinikum der Universität München DE Germany (DE) Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Morhart, P., Kehl, S., Schuh, W., Hermes, K., Meltendorf, S., Neubert, A.,... Lingel, H. (2023). Age-related Differences in Immune Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Antigens. In Vivo, 37(1), 70-78. https://dx.doi.org/10.21873/invivo.13055

MLA:

Morhart, Patrick, et al. "Age-related Differences in Immune Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Antigens." In Vivo 37.1 (2023): 70-78.

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