Comparative Analysis of Viral Load and Cytokines during SARS-CoV-2 Infection between Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women.

TitleComparative Analysis of Viral Load and Cytokines during SARS-CoV-2 Infection between Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsLiu D, Li H, Li X, Rodriguez GD, Pietz H, Fiel RHurtado, Konadu E, Singh V, Loo F, Rodgers WHarry
JournalInt J Mol Sci
Volume25
Issue14
Date Published2024 Jul 15
ISSN1422-0067
KeywordsAdult, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Antibodies, Viral, COVID-19, Cytokines, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus, Viral Load
Abstract

To better understand the vulnerabilities of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a comprehensive, retrospective cohort study to assess differences in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Nasopharyngeal swabs and serum specimens from 90 pregnant and 278 age-matched non-pregnant women were collected from 15 March 2020 to 23 July 2021 at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in New York City. Multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, neutralizing antibody, and cytokine array assays were used to assess the incidence, viral load, antibody titers and profiles, and examine cytokine expression patterns. Our results show a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women. Pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited a substantially lower viral load. In addition, the levels of both anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain IgG neutralizing antibodies and anti-N Protein IgG were elevated in pregnant women. Finally, cytokine profiling revealed differential expression of leptin across cohorts. These findings suggest that pregnancy is associated with distinct immune and virological responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by lower infection rates, substantially lower viral loads, and enhanced antibody production. Differential cytokine expression indicates unique immune modulation in pregnant women.

DOI10.3390/ijms25147731
Alternate JournalInt J Mol Sci
PubMed ID39062978
PubMed Central IDPMC11277191

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