In Nasal Mucosal Secretions, Distinct IFN and IgA Responses Are Found in Severe and Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Juliana M. B. Santos, Camila Pereira Soares, Fernanda Rodrigues Monteiro, Ralyria Mello, Jônatas Bussador do Amaral, Andressa Simões Aguiar, Mariana Pereira da Soledade, Carolina Sucupira, Milena de Paulis, Juliana Bannwart de Andrade, Flávia Jacqueline Almeida, Marco Aurélio Palazzi Sáfadi, Luciana Becker Mau, Jamile Menezes Brasil, Theresa Ramalho, Flávio V. Loures, Rodolfo P. Vieira, Edison Luíz Durigon, Danielle Bruna Leal Oliveira, André Luís Lacerda Bachi
Abstract
Likely as in other viral respiratory diseases, SARS-CoV-2 elicit a local immune response, which includes production and releasing of both cytokines and secretory immunoglobulin (SIgA). Therefore, in this study, we investigated the levels of specific-SIgA for SARS-CoV-2 and cytokines in the airways mucosa 37 patients who were suspected of COVID-19. According to the RT-PCR results, the patients were separated into three groups: negative for COVID-19 and other viruses (NEGS, n = 5); negative for COVID-19 but positive for the presence of other viruses (OTHERS, n = 5); and the positive for COVID-19 (COVID-19, n = 27). Higher specific-SIgA for SARS-CoV-2, IFN-β, and IFN-γ were found in the COVID-19 group than in the other groups. Increased IL-12p70 levels were observed in OTHERS group as compared to COVID-19 group. When the COVID-19 group was sub stratified according to the illness severity, significant differences and correlations were found for the same parameters described above comparing severe COVID-19 to the mild COVID-19 group and other non-COVID-19 groups. For the first time, significant differences are shown in the airway's mucosa immune responses in different groups of patients with or without respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection.