Altered IgG glycosylation at COVID-19 diagnosis predicts disease severity

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Vicente, MM (Author) Other; Alves, I (Author) Other; Gaifem, J (Author) Other; Rodrigues, CS (Author) Other; Fernandes, A (Author) Other; Dias, AM (Author) Other; Stambuk, J (Author) Other; Petrovic, T (Author) Other; oliveira, p (Author) ICBAS; Ferreira-da-Silva, F (Author) Other; Soares, A (Author) Other; Seixas, N (Author) Other; Teixeira, T (Author) Other; Malheiro, L (Author) Other; Abreu, MM (Author) Other; Lauc, G (Author) Other; Castro, RSE (Author) Other; Pinho, SS (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Immunology

Vol. 52

Pages: 946-957

ISSN: 0014-2980

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-CPM

DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149491

Abstract (EN): The nature of the immune responses associated with COVID-19 pathogenesis and disease severity, as well as the breadth of vaccine coverage and duration of immunity, is still unclear. Given the unpredictability for developing a severe/complicated disease, there is an urgent need in the field for predictive biomarkers of COVID-19. We have analyzed IgG Fc N-glycan traits of 82 SARS-CoV-2+ unvaccinated patients, at diagnosis, by nano-LC-ESI-MS. We determined the impact of IgG Fc glyco-variations in the induction of NK cells activation, further evaluating the association between IgG Fc N-glycans and disease severity/prognosis. We found that SARS-CoV-2+ individuals display, at diagnosis, variations in the glycans composition of circulating IgGs. Importantly, levels of galactose and sialic acid structures on IgGs are able to predict the development of a poor COVID-19 disease. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that a deficiency on galactose structures on IgG Fc in COVID-19 patients appears to induce NK cells activation associated with increased release of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, which indicates the presence of pro-inflammatory immunoglobulins and higher immune activation, associated with a poor disease course. This study brings to light a novel blood biomarker based on IgG Fc glycome composition with capacity to stratify patients at diagnosis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12