Dynamics of cytokine and antibody responses in community versus hospital SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Tulika Singh, Andrew N Macintyre, Thomas W Burke, Jack Anderson, Elizabeth Petzold, Erica L Stover, Matthew J French, Thomas H Oguin, Todd Demarco, Micah T McClain, Emily R Ko, Lawrence P Park, Thomas Denny, Gregory D Sempowski, Christopher W Woods
Author Information
Tulika Singh: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Andrew N Macintyre: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Thomas W Burke: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
Jack Anderson: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
Elizabeth Petzold: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
Erica L Stover: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Matthew J French: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Thomas H Oguin: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Todd Demarco: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Micah T McClain: Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States.
Emily R Ko: Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics and Innovation, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
Lawrence P Park: Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States.
Thomas Denny: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Gregory D Sempowski: Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
Christopher W Woods: Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States.
Introduction: Dysregulated host cytokine responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection are a primary cause of progression to severe disease, whereas early neutralizing antibody responses are considered protective. However, there are gaps in understanding the early temporal dynamics of these immune responses, and the profile of productive immune responses generated by non-hospitalized people with mild infections in the community. Methods: Here we conducted a prospective cohort study of people with suspected infections/exposures in the US state of North Carolina, before vaccine availability. We recruited participants not only in hospitals/clinics, but also in their homes. With serial sampling, we compared virologic and immunologic factors in 258 community cases versus 114 hospital cases of COVID-19 to define factors associated with severity. Results: We found that high early neutralizing antibodies were associated with lower nasal viral load, but not protection from hospitalization. Cytokine responses were evaluated in 125 cases, with subsets at first versus second week of illness to assess for time-dependent trajectories. The hospital group demonstrated a higher magnitude of serum IL-6, IL-1R antagonist, IP-10, and MIG; prolonged upregulation of IL-17; and lesser downregulation of GRO��, IL-1R antagonist, and MCP1, in comparison to the community group suggesting that these factors may contribute to immunopathology. In the second week of illness, 2-fold increases in IL-6, IL-1R antagonist, and IP-10 were associated with 2.2, 1.8, and 10-fold higher odds of hospitalization respectively, whereas a 2-fold increase in IL-10 was associated with 63% reduction in odds of hospitalization (p<0.05). Moreover, antibody responses at 3-6 months post mild SARS-CoV-2 infections in the community revealed long-lasting antiviral IgM and IgA antibodies as well as a stable set point of neutralizing antibodies that were not waning. Discussion: Our data provide valuable temporal cytokine benchmarks to track the progression of immunopathology in COVID-19 patients and guide improvements in immunotherapies.
