SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Is Associated with Age and Body Mass Index in Convalescent Outpatients

COVID-19 has had an unprecedented global impact on human health. Understanding the Ab memory responses to infection is one tool needed to effectively control the pandemic. Among 173 outpatients who had virologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, we evaluated serum Ab concentrations, microneutralization activity, and enumerated SARS-CoV-2-specific B cells in convalescent human blood specimens. Serum Ab concentrations were variable, allowing for stratification of the cohort into high and low responders. Neither participant sex, the timing of blood sampling following the onset of illness, nor the number of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein -specific B cells correlated with serum Ab concentration. Serum Ab concentration was positively associated with microneutralization activity and participant age, with participants under the age of 30 showing the lowest Ab level. These data suggest that young adult outpatients did not generate as robust Ab memory, compared with older adults. Body mass index was also positively correlated with serum Ab levels. Multivariate analyses showed that participant age and body mass index were independently associated with Ab levels. These findings have direct implications for public health policy and current vaccine efforts. Knowledge gained regarding Ab memory following infection will inform the need for vaccination in those previously infected and allow for a better approximation of population-wide protective immunity. The Journal of Immunology, 2022, 208: 1711-1718.

Automated summary

COVID-19 has had an unprecedented global impact on human health. Understanding the antibody memory responses to infection is crucial for controlling the pandemic. A study on convalescent patients with virologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection found that serum antibody concentrations were variable and positively correlated with microneutralization activity and age. However, there was no correlation with participant sex, timing of blood sampling, or the number of SARS-CoV-2-specific B cells. Body mass index was also positively correlated with serum antibody levels. Age and body mass index were independently associated with antibody levels. These findings have implications for public health policy and vaccination programs.