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Updated: May 24, 2025
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Antibody using a HiBiT-Based Bioreporter
Published on: August 12, 2021
Frequency of IgE antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 RBD protein across different disease severity COVID19 groups
Juan Francisco Delgado de la Poza1, Albert Rodrigo Parés2, Isabel Aparicio-Calvente3
1Immunology Laboratory, Clinic Laboratories Service, Departament de Medicina, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT-CERCA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain. jdelgado@tauli.cat.
Background:
COVID-19 appears to have a progression of three stages. The latter stage is characterized by a high level of cytokine release, which in turn triggers an uncontrolled reaction known as cytokine storm where mast cells are involved. The presence of anti-IgE antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in this phase has been previously reported, suggesting an association with the severity of the disease. Our study aims to assess the prognostic significance of IgE antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 across a spectrum of clinical presentations, including individual with mild symptoms, hospitalized patients, and those who presented a critical progression.
Methods:
The study included 64 patients distributed into the following groups: 22 critically ill hospitalized individuals (Critical); 21 non-critical hospitalized patients (Severe); 21 mild symptomatic non-hospitalized cases (Mild); and 22 healthy blood donors with samples collected in October 2019. Anti-IgE antibodies against Spike (S) protein were detected using a homemade ELISA, where the plate was sensitized with the RBD of recombinant S protein.
Results:
Among 64 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, 28.1% tested positive for IgE isotype antibodies against S protein RBD, whose prevalence was similar across severity groups: Mild 23.8%, Severe 28.6%, and Critical 31.8% (p = 0.842). Patients with IgE response exhibited higher levels of LDH compared to non-IgE responders, with a 40% increase (p = 0.037), and a non-significantly higher tendency in other inflammatory markers.
Conclusion:
In SARS-CoV-2 infection, roughly a fourth of patients presented an IgE isotype response, regardless of disease severity, which is associated with higher levels of LDH.
