Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Calwerstraße 7, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Viruses. 2023 Oct 17;15(10):2100. doi: 10.3390/v15102100.
SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide, causing millions of deaths and leaving a significant proportion of people with long-term sequelae of COVID-19 ("post-COVID syndrome"). Whereas the precise mechanism of post-COVID syndrome is still unknown, the immune response after the first infection may play a role. Here, we performed a long-term follow-up analysis of 110 COVID-19 convalescents, analyzing the first SARS-CoV-2-directed immune response, vaccination status, long-term symptoms (approximately 2.5 years after first infection), and reinfections. A total of 96% of convalescents were vaccinated at least once against SARS-CoV-2 after their first infection. A reinfection rate of 47% was observed, and lower levels of anti-spike IgG antibodies after the first infection were shown to associate with reinfection. While T-cell responses could not be clearly associated with persistent postinfectious symptoms, convalescents with long-term symptoms showed elevated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels at the first infection. Evaluating the immune response after the first infection might be a useful tool for identifying individuals with increased risk for re-infections and long-term symptoms.
SARS-CoV-2 已在全球范围内传播，导致数百万人死亡，并使相当一部分人留下 COVID-19（“后新冠综合征”）的长期后遗症。虽然后新冠综合征的确切机制尚不清楚，但第一次感染后的免疫反应可能起作用。在这里，我们对 110 名 COVID-19 康复者进行了长期随访分析，分析了他们第一次 SARS-CoV-2 定向免疫反应、疫苗接种状况、长期症状（首次感染后约 2.5 年）和再感染情况。首次感染后，共有 96%的康复者至少接种过一次 SARS-CoV-2 疫苗。观察到再感染率为 47%，并且首次感染后抗刺突 IgG 抗体水平较低与再感染相关。虽然 T 细胞反应不能与持续性感染后症状明确相关，但长期有症状的康复者在首次感染时表现出更高的 SARS-CoV-2 特异性抗体水平。评估首次感染后的免疫反应可能是识别再感染和长期症状风险增加个体的有用工具。
