PB1295 - Age related differences in monocyte subsets, cytokine patterns and the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during acute COVID-19 – a prospective observational longitudinal study

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Exhibition

Presentation Format: In-Person

Presenting Author(s)

Anita Pirabe, MSc

PhD Student
Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria

Co-Author(s)

SH

Stefan Heber

Postdoc
Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Waltraud C. Schrottmaier, PhD

Postdoc
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Anna Schmuckenschlager, MSc

PhD student
Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
ST

Sonja Treiber

Medical Student
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
DP

David Pereyra

Medical doctor
Division of Visceral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
JS

Jonas Santol

PhD Student
Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
EP

Erich Pawelka

Medical Doctor
Fourth Medical Department with Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinik Favoriten/Kaiser-Franz-Josef Hospital
Vienna, Wien, Austria
MT

Marianna Traugott

Medical Doctor
Fourth Medical Department with Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinik Favoriten/Kaiser-Franz-Josef Hospital
Vienna, Wien, Austria
CS

Christian Schörgenhofer

Research associate
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
TS

Tamara Seitz

Medical Student
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
MK

Mario Karolyi

Medical doctor
Department of Medicine IV, Clinic Favoriten
Vienna, Wien, Austria
BJ

Bernd Jilma

Specialist for Internal Medicine
department of Clinical Pharmacology
Vienna, Wien, Austria
UR

Ulrike Resch

Postdoc
Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
AZ

Alexander Zoufaly

Medical Doctor
Department of Medicine IV, Clinic Favoriten; Faculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Alice Assinger, PhD

Associate professor
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of the elderly population towards infectious threats, illustrating that aging is accompanied by dysregulated immune responses summarised in terms like inflammaging, immunoparalysis and immunothrombosis.

Aims: To gain a better understanding on the underlying mechanisms of the age-associated risk of adverse outcome in individuals experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 infection, we analysed the impact of age on circulating monocyte phenotypes, activation markers, inflammatory cytokines, haemostatic parameters and the onset of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody production in the context of COVID-19 disease progression and outcome.

Methods: Blood samples were collected at the day of hospital admission followed by repeated blood draws (EK1315/2020). Blood parameters were quantified by bead-based immunoassays and flow cytometry. Mixed linear models were applied to explore if the cytokine levels, monocyte subset ratios and antibody titers develop differently over the disease course in younger and elderly COVID-19 patients and whether this development in turn differs between the outcome groups.

Results: Our data indicate no age-associated differences in monocyte subset composition. However, age and outcome are associated with differences in monocyte activation status. Moreover, a distinct cytokine pattern of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF in elderly survivors versus non-survivors suggests that older patients with adverse outcome experience an inappropriate immune response. Anti- spike S1 IgGs are reduced in elderly. However, deceased patients had higher anti-spike IgG levels than patients requiring intensive care indicating that antibodies are not necessarily protective against adverse outcome. In addition, strong correlations were found between anti-spike S1-, anti-nucleocapsid and anti-RBD IgGs and platelet counts implying that platelets may play an underestimated role in the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Conclusion(s): Our study underscores the importance of longitudinal monitoring in elderly COVID-19 patients, as dynamic changes after symptom onset can be observed, which allow for a differentiated insight into confounding factors that impact the complex pathogenesis following an infection with SARS-CoV-2.