Salivary Immunity Of Elite Collegiate Football Players Infected With Sars-cov-2 Normalizes Following Quarantine

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a major world health concern as the causal agent of COVID-19. Although the impact of COVID19 on systemic immunity in the general population has been well characterized the short-term effects of COVID-19 infection on biomarkers of salivary innate immunity elite-level athletes are unknown. PURPOSE: Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether elite college football athletes had altered biomarkers of salivary immunity following the CDC-recommended 14-day quarantine post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Salivary samples were obtained from fourteen NCAA Division I football players who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (n = 14), immediately after CDC-recommended quarantine (average days = 14 ± 2 days) and from sixteen position-matched controls who remained uninfected with SARS-CoV-2. Biomarkers of salivary innate immunity (sIgA and alpha-amylase), antimicrobial proteins (AMPs, i.e., HNP1-3, lactoferrin, LL-37) and lung inflammation (SPA, SPLI, and Neutrophil Elastase-alpha-1-anttrypsin complex) were measured using commercially available ELISAs. An independent student t-test was used to determine significant changes in biomarkers between SARS-Cov-2+ and SARS-CoV-2- groups. RESULTS: Human Neutrophil Defensin 1-3 (HNP1-3) secretion rates were significantly higher in the SARS-Cov-2+ participants compared to the SARS-CoV-2- control group (SARS-CoV-2+: 47,668 pg*min-1 ± 9,907 pg*min-1 vs. SARS-CoV-2-: 19,010 pg*min-1 ± 8,689 pg*min-1; p < 0.05), while remaining within the normal ranges for elite athletes. No other significant differences in AMPs concentrations or secretion rates were observed. CONCLUSION: This suggests that a 14-day quarantine period appears to be sufficient to ensure that athletes’ salivary immunity is not compromised, and athletes are not at risk for lung inflammation.