Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 09, 2025 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
Medical News:
A New Perspective on COVID 19 and Immune System Responses
Researchers from multiple institutions have uncovered a surprising possibility about how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, interacts with the human immune system. Their study suggests that the virus may have allergen-like properties that allow it to evade immune defenses, leading to chronic infections. Scientists from Autlan Regional Hospital and University of Guadalajara in Mexico, University of South Florida in the United States, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, Craniomed Group Facility in Italy, and University of Naples Federico II in Italy collaborated on this groundbreaking research.
COVID-19 Evades the Immune System by Mimicking Allergens
For years, researchers have focused on understanding how SARS-CoV-2 affects the immune system. The latest findings propose that the virus could be triggering responses similar to those seen in allergic reactions. This
Medical News report explores how this unusual immune reaction might contribute to prolonged infections and discusses how COVID-19 vaccines could also be linked to this phenomenon.
The Role of IgG4 and IgE in Immune Response
In the immune system, antibodies play a vital role in fighting infections. IgG4 is a type of antibody usually associated with immune tolerance, meaning it helps the body accept certain antigens without triggering an aggressive response. Meanwhile, IgE is linked to allergic reactions and is typically involved in conditions like asthma or hay fever.
The study found that both IgG4 and IgE antibodies are elevated in some people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or received multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. This unusual immune response suggests that SARS-CoV-2 might be mimicking allergens, causing the body to react in a way that reduces its ability to fight off the infection effectively. Similar immune responses have been observed in other viruses such as HIV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), further supporting this theory.
Could the Virus Be Promoting Immune Tolerance
One of the key findings of the study is the potential shift from a Th1 immune response (which is essential for fighting viruses) to a Th2 response (which promotes tolerance). This shift means that instead of aggressively attacking the virus, the immune system may become more accepting of it, allowing SARS-CoV-2 to persist in the body for longer periods.
This effect has been particularly noted in individuals who have received multiple mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine doses. The researchers observed that over time, there was a significant increase in IgG4 levels in vaccinated individuals. While IgG4 is usually beneficial in conditions like allergies, its role in viral infections is less desirable because it might weaken the body's ability to clear the virus efficiently.
What Does This Mean for COVID 19 Vaccines
The study highlights an important question: could repeated vaccination with certain typ
es of COVID-19 vaccines lead to immune tolerance against the virus Instead of strengthening the immune system's defenses, is it possible that high levels of IgG4 antibodies could make it easier for the virus to evade detection and continue spreading in the body
Previous research on HIV and RSV has shown similar mechanisms, where the immune system produces IgE in response to the virus, triggering a shift towards tolerance rather than an active defense. If SARS-CoV-2 follows a similar pattern, it could explain why some individuals experience reinfections despite being vaccinated.
Evidence from Other Viruses
The researchers also compared SARS-CoV-2 to other viruses known to manipulate the immune system. In HIV, certain proteins induce IgE production, leading to immune suppression. A similar phenomenon has been observed in RSV infections, where an allergic-like response weakens the body's ability to fight the virus. If SARS-CoV-2 possesses similar allergen-like features, it could explain why some people develop long-term or recurring COVID-19 infections.
Potential Implications for Future Vaccine Development
If further studies confirm that SARS-CoV-2 has allergen-like properties, it could lead to major changes in how vaccines are designed. Current vaccines aim to generate a strong immune response, but if they also trigger an increase in IgG4 antibodies, they might inadvertently reduce the body's ability to fight the virus in the long run.
Scientists suggest that future vaccines could be designed to avoid this immune tolerance effect. By focusing on immune responses that enhance virus-fighting antibodies like IgG1 and IgG3 rather than IgG4, researchers could create more effective vaccines that do not weaken the body's defenses over time.
Conclusions
The study presents compelling evidence that SARS-CoV-2 might possess allergen-like epitopes that manipulate the immune system. By inducing the production of IgE and IgG4 antibodies, the virus could be shifting immune responses away from effective viral clearance and toward tolerance. This shift could explain why some people experience prolonged infections and why repeated vaccination may sometimes lead to unexpected immune responses.
If these findings are confirmed, they could have significant implications for COVID-19 vaccine strategies. Future research should focus on understanding the long-term impact of IgG4 dominance in vaccinated individuals and explore ways to enhance protective immune responses without promoting immune tolerance.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202503.0461/v1
For the latest COVID-19 News keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/ige-antibodies-found-to-play-a-role-following-both-natural-infection-and-various-types-of-covid-19-vaccinations
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-uk-study-finds-that-salivary-iga-and-vimentin-determines-degree-of-sars-cov-2-infectivity
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-sars-cov-2-also-binds-to-histamine-receptor-h1-for-cell-entry
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_hospital_listings
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/hospital-news
Share
Tweet
Share
