Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating
Although only 0.8–1% of SARS-CoV-2 infections are in the 0–9 age-group, pneumonia is still the leading cause of infant mortality globally. Antibodies specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) are produced during severe COVID-19 manifestations. Following vaccination, specific antibod...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4395 |
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| author | Chiara Agostinis Miriam Toffoli Andrea Balduit Alessandro Mangogna Hadida Yasmin Chiara Ragazzon Silvia Pegoraro Giuseppina Campisciano Guglielmo Stabile Gabriella Zito Uday Kishore Manola Comar Federica Scrimin Roberta Bulla Giuseppe Ricci |
| author_facet | Chiara Agostinis Miriam Toffoli Andrea Balduit Alessandro Mangogna Hadida Yasmin Chiara Ragazzon Silvia Pegoraro Giuseppina Campisciano Guglielmo Stabile Gabriella Zito Uday Kishore Manola Comar Federica Scrimin Roberta Bulla Giuseppe Ricci |
| author_sort | Chiara Agostinis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although only 0.8–1% of SARS-CoV-2 infections are in the 0–9 age-group, pneumonia is still the leading cause of infant mortality globally. Antibodies specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) are produced during severe COVID-19 manifestations. Following vaccination, specific antibodies are also detected in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. Since antibody binding to viral antigens can trigger activation of the complement classical - pathway, we investigated antibody-dependent complement activation by anti-S immunoglobulins (Igs) present in breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This was in view of the fact that complement could play a fundamentally protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborns. Thus, 22 vaccinated, lactating healthcare and school workers were enrolled, and a sample of serum and milk was collected from each woman. We first tested for the presence of anti-S IgG and IgA in serum and milk of breastfeeding women by ELISA. We then measured the concentration of the first subcomponents of the three complement pathways (i.e., C1q, MBL, and C3) and the ability of anti-S Igs detected in milk to activate the complement in vitro. The current study demonstrated that vaccinated mothers have anti-S IgG in serum as well as in breast milk, which is capable of activating complement and may confer a protective benefit to breastfed newborns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:23:25Z |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:23:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e4e0647c79144b69c3fba205b4ab50a2023-11-17T07:47:51ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-02-01245439510.3390/ijms24054395Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-ActivatingChiara Agostinis0Miriam Toffoli1Andrea Balduit2Alessandro Mangogna3Hadida Yasmin4Chiara Ragazzon5Silvia Pegoraro6Giuseppina Campisciano7Guglielmo Stabile8Gabriella Zito9Uday Kishore10Manola Comar11Federica Scrimin12Roberta Bulla13Giuseppe Ricci14Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyImmunology and Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, Cooch Behar 736101, West Bengal, IndiaDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, ItalyAlthough only 0.8–1% of SARS-CoV-2 infections are in the 0–9 age-group, pneumonia is still the leading cause of infant mortality globally. Antibodies specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) are produced during severe COVID-19 manifestations. Following vaccination, specific antibodies are also detected in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. Since antibody binding to viral antigens can trigger activation of the complement classical - pathway, we investigated antibody-dependent complement activation by anti-S immunoglobulins (Igs) present in breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This was in view of the fact that complement could play a fundamentally protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborns. Thus, 22 vaccinated, lactating healthcare and school workers were enrolled, and a sample of serum and milk was collected from each woman. We first tested for the presence of anti-S IgG and IgA in serum and milk of breastfeeding women by ELISA. We then measured the concentration of the first subcomponents of the three complement pathways (i.e., C1q, MBL, and C3) and the ability of anti-S Igs detected in milk to activate the complement in vitro. The current study demonstrated that vaccinated mothers have anti-S IgG in serum as well as in breast milk, which is capable of activating complement and may confer a protective benefit to breastfed newborns.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4395COVID-19 vaccinesantibodiesbreast milkcomplement systemclassical pathway |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Agostinis Miriam Toffoli Andrea Balduit Alessandro Mangogna Hadida Yasmin Chiara Ragazzon Silvia Pegoraro Giuseppina Campisciano Guglielmo Stabile Gabriella Zito Uday Kishore Manola Comar Federica Scrimin Roberta Bulla Giuseppe Ricci Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating International Journal of Molecular Sciences COVID-19 vaccines antibodies breast milk complement system classical pathway |
| title | Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating |
| title_full | Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating |
| title_fullStr | Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating |
| title_short | Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating |
| title_sort | anti spike antibodies present in the milk of sars cov 2 vaccinated mothers are complement activating |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccines antibodies breast milk complement system classical pathway |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4395 |
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