Changes in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Subclasses over Time and in Association with Disease Severity

Zoia R Korobova; Elena V Zueva; Natalia A Arsentieva; Oleg K Batsunov; Natalia E Liubimova; Irina V Khamitova; Raisa N Kuznetsova; Artem A Rubinstein; Tikhon V Savin; Oksana V Stanevich; Alexandr N Kulikov; Dmitry E Pevtsov; Areg A Totolian

doi:10.3390/v14050941

Changes in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Subclasses over Time and in Association with Disease Severity

Viruses. 2022 Apr 29;14(5):941. doi: 10.3390/v14050941.

Authors

Zoia R Korobova^{1

2}, Elena V Zueva¹, Natalia A Arsentieva¹, Oleg K Batsunov^{1

2}, Natalia E Liubimova¹, Irina V Khamitova¹, Raisa N Kuznetsova^{1

2}, Artem A Rubinstein², Tikhon V Savin^{1

2}, Oksana V Stanevich², Alexandr N Kulikov², Dmitry E Pevtsov², Areg A Totolian^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 14 Ulitsa Mira, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia.
² Department of Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Intensive Care Unit, Pavlov First State Medical University of St. Petersburg, 6-8 Ulitsa L'va Tolstovo, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia.

Abstract

IgG is the most prominent marker of post-COVID-19 immunity. Not only does this subtype mark the late stages of infection, but it also stays in the body for a timespan of at least 6 months. However, different IgG subclasses have different properties, and their roles in specific anti-COVID-19 responses have yet to be determined. We assessed the concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 against different SARS-CoV-2 antigens (N protein, S protein RBD) using a specifically designed method and samples from 348 COVID-19 patients. We noted a statistically significant association between severity of COVID-19 infection and IgG concentrations (both total and subclasses). When assessing anti-N protein and anti-RBD IgG subclasses, we noted the importance of IgG3 as a subclass. Since it is often associated with early antiviral response, we presumed that the IgG3 subclass is the first high-affinity IgG antibody to be produced during COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; IgG; IgG subclasses; severity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
SARS-CoV-2
Severity of Illness Index

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Immunoglobulin G

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute within the framework of a State Task (Registration No 121030200299-3).