Abstract
Vaccines are essential to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to protect the vulnerable population. However, one safety concern of vaccination is the possible development of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The potential infection of Fc receptor bearing cells such as macrophages, would support continued virus replication and inflammatory responses, and thereby potentially worsen the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV neither infect human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDM) nor induce inflammatory cytokines in these cells, in sharp contrast to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and the common cold human coronavirus 229E. Furthermore, serum from convalescent COVID-19 patients neither induced enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infection nor innate immune response in hMDM. Although, hMDM expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, no or very low levels of transmembrane protease serine 2 were found. These results support the view that ADE may not be involved in the immunopathological processes associated with COVID-19, however, more studies are necessary to understand the potential contribution of antibodies-virus complexes with other cells expressing FcR receptors.
Highlights
Since the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the virus has spread globally causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
A concern is the possibility that vaccination could promote antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection which could be associated with enhancement of the disease (Lee et al, 2020)
The present study aimed to investigate whether immune sera from convalescent COVID-19 patients would enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection and promote secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines production by human macrophages
Summary
Since the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the virus has spread globally causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The high morbidity and severity of COVID-19 in some of the affected patients have jeopardized the public health system of affected countries. The public health measures that have been implemented to control the pandemic have affected the life and economy of millions of people around the world. The lack of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, allows the virus to spread rapidly in the human population. A concern is the possibility that vaccination could promote antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection which could be associated with enhancement of the disease (Lee et al, 2020)
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