Presence of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 plasma

Authors

For Yue Tso, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Salum J. Lidenge, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Lisa K. Poppe, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Phoebe B. Pena, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sara R. Privatt, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Sydney J. Bennett, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
John R. Ngowi, Ocean Road Cancer Institute
Julius Mwaiselage, Ocean Road Cancer Institute
Michael Belshan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jacob A. Siedlik, Creighton University
Morgan A. Raine, Creighton University
Juan B. Ochoa, Ochsner Medical Center
Julia Garcia-Diaz, Ochsner Medical Center
Bobby Nossaman, Ochsner Medical Center
Lyndsey Buckner, Ochsner Medical Center
W Mark Roberts, Ochsner Medical Center
Matthew J. Dean, Louisiana State University Cancer Center
Augusto C. Ochoa, Louisiana State University Cancer Center
John T. West, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Charles Wood, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Salum J. Lidenge

Charles Wood

Date of this Version

3-4-2021

Citation

Tso FY, Lidenge SJ, Poppe LK, Peña PB, Privatt SR, Bennett SJ, et al. (2021) Presence of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 plasma. PLoS ONE 16(3): e0247640. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0247640

Comments

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract

Background Neutralizing-antibody (nAb) is the major focus of most ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials. However, nAb response against SARS-CoV-2, when present, decays rapidly. Given the myriad roles of antibodies in immune responses, it is possible that antibodies could also mediate protection against SARS-CoV-2 via effector mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), which we sought to explore here. Methods Plasma of 3 uninfected controls and 20 subjects exposed to, or recovering from, SARS CoV-2 infection were collected from U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies in the plasma samples. SARS-CoV-2 specific neutralizing capability of these plasmas was assessed with SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus. ADCC activity was assessed with a calcein release assay. Results SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies were detected in all COVID-19 subjects studied. All but three COVID-19 subjects contained nAb at high potency (>80% neutralization). Plasma from 19/20 of COVID-19 subjects also demonstrated strong ADCC activity against SARS CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, including two individuals without nAb against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion Both neutralizing and non-neutralizing COVID-19 plasmas can mediate ADCC. Our findings argue that evaluation of potential vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 should include investigation of the magnitude and durability of ADCC, in addition to nAb.