Immunoglobulin A as a Key Immunological Molecular Signature of Post-COVID-19 Conditions

Viruses. 2023 Jul 13;15(7):1545. doi: 10.3390/v15071545.

Abstract

COVID-19 has infected humans worldwide, causing millions of deaths or prolonged symptoms in survivors. The transient or persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection have been defined as post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC). We conducted a study of 151 Brazilian PCC patients to analyze symptoms and immunoglobulin profiles, taking into account sex, vaccination, hospitalization, and age. Fatigue and myalgia were the most common symptoms, and lack of vaccination, hospitalization, and neuropsychiatric and metabolic comorbidities were relevant to the development of PCC. Analysis of serological immunoglobulins showed that IgA was higher in PCC patients, especially in the adult and elderly groups. Also, non-hospitalized and hospitalized PCC patients produced high and similar levels of IgA. Our results indicated that the detection of IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 during the course of the disease could be associated with the development of PCC and may be an immunological signature to predict prolonged symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; immunoglobulin profiles; post-COVID-19 conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • COVID-19*
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A*
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin M

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) through grant numbers E-26/210.822/2021 and E-26/201.005/2022, and by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brasil (CAPES)–Finance Code 001.