1. Evaluating TRAIL and IP-10 alterations in vaccinated pregnant women after COVID-19 diagnosis and their correlation with neutralizing antibodies.
- Author
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Chen WC, Hu SY, Cheng CM, Shen CF, Chuang HY, Ker CR, Sun DJ, and Shen CJ
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Pregnancy, Adult, Infant, Newborn, COVID-19 Vaccines immunology, COVID-19 Vaccines administration & dosage, Antibodies, Viral blood, Antibodies, Viral immunology, Biomarkers blood, Fetal Blood immunology, Vaccination, Chemokine CXCL10 blood, COVID-19 immunology, COVID-19 prevention & control, Antibodies, Neutralizing blood, Antibodies, Neutralizing immunology, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand blood, SARS-CoV-2 immunology, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious immunology, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious diagnosis, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious blood
- Abstract
Background: This study evaluates tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10) in pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborns, exploring the effects of antiviral treatments and vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody (Nab) inhibition on these key viral infection biomarkers., Methods: We studied 61 pregnant women with past COVID-19 and either three (n=56) or four (n=5) doses of vaccination, and 46 without COVID-19 but vaccinated. We analyzed them and their newborns' blood for TRAIL, IP-10, and Nab levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), correlating these with other clinical factors., Results: Our study found lower TRAIL but higher IP-10 levels in maternal blood than neonatal cord blood, irrespective of past COVID-19 diagnosis. Cases diagnosed with COVID-19 < 4 weeks previously had higher maternal blood TRAIL levels (16.49 vs. 40.81 pg/mL, p=0.0064) and IP-10 (154.68 vs. 225.81 pg/mL, p=0.0170) than those never diagnosed. Antiviral medication lowered TRAIL and IP-10 in maternal blood without affecting Nab inhibition (TRAIL: 19.24 vs. 54.53 pg/mL, p=0.028; IP-10: 158.36 vs. 255.47 pg/mL, p=0.0089). TRAIL and IP-10 levels were similar with three or four vaccine doses, but four doses increased Nab inhibition (p=0.0363). Previously COVID-19 exposed pregnant women had higher Nab inhibition (p < 0.0001). No obvious correlation was found among TRAIL, IP-10, and Nab inhibition level., Conclusions: Our study suggests that lower maternal TRAIL and higher IP-10 levels compared to neonatal cord blood coupled with a rise in both markers following COVID-19 diagnosis that could be reduced by antivirals indicates a correlation to infection severity. Higher vaccine doses enhance Nab inhibition, irrespective of antiviral medication use and independent of TRAIL or IP-10 levels, highlighting the significance and safety of adequate vaccination and antiviral use post-diagnosis in pregnant women., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Hu, Cheng, Shen, Chuang, Ker, Sun and Shen.)
- Published
- 2024
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