DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091108 ISSN:

In Vitro Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Could Be Abolished by Adding Human IgG

Xun Wang, Minghui Li, Panpan Lu, Chen Li, Chaoyue Zhao, Xiaoyu Zhao, Rui Qiao, Yuchen Cui, Yanjia Chen, Jiayan Li, Guonan Cai, Pengfei Wang
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology and Allergy
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Evidence of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of other viruses has raised concerns about the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and antibody therapeutics. In vitro studies have shown ADE of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we also found that vaccination/convalescent sera and some approved monoclonal antibodies can enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection of FcR-expressing B cells in vitro. However, the enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infection can be prevented by blocking Fc–FcR interaction through the addition of human serum/IgG or the introduction of mutations in the Fc portion of the antibody. It should be noted that ADE activity observed on FcR-expressing cells in vitro may not necessarily reflect the situation in vivo; therefore, animal and clinical data should be included for ADE evaluation.

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