COVID-19 Immunity: Scientist Stress That Emphasis Should Also Be Focused On Mucosal Immunity In Order To Effectively Deal With SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 Immunity: Researchers from the University of Buffalo-New York and University of Alabama at Birmingham stress that more research and focus should also be focused on the mucosal immunity and not just on the systemic immunoglobin antibodies.
 
The mucosal immune system is the largest component of the entire immune system, having evolved to provide protection at the main sites of infectious threat: the mucosae.
 
As SARS-CoV-2 initially infects the upper respiratory tract, its first interactions with the immune system must occur predominantly at the respiratory mucosal surfaces, during both inductive and effector phases of the response.
 
However, almost all studies of the immune response in COVID-19 have focused exclusively on serum antibodies and systemic cell-mediated immunity including innate responses. This study proposes that there is a significant role for mucosal immunity and for secretory as well as circulating IgA antibodies in COVID-19, and that it is important to elucidate this in order to comprehend especially the asymptomatic and mild states of the infection, which appear to account for the majority of cases. Moreover, it is possible that mucosal immunity can be exploited for beneficial diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic purposes.
 
The review cum study was published in the peer reviewed journal: Frontiers In Immunology. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.611337/full
 
Individuals who has undergone a nasal swab or saliva test for COVID-19 knows that the virus is most easily detected in the nose and mouth. That's why, University at Buffalo researchers argue in this new paper that more COVID-19 studies should be devoted to how immunity emerges to SARS-CoV-2 in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.
 
As the mucosal immune system is the immune system's largest component, the study team expressed concern that it hasn't been a focus of much of the research on COVID-19 to date.
 
Dr Michael W. Russell, Ph.D., emeritus professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at University of Buffalo and senior author on the paper told Thailand Medical News, "We think it is a serious omission to ignore the mucosal immune response to SARS-CoV-2, given its initial sites of infection. Clearly the response of the systemic immunoglobulin G antibody [the most abundant circulating antibody] is important we do not deny that but on its own it is insufficient."
 
Dr Russell noted that naturally, the initial focus of research on the disease was on cases of severe disease when the virus descends into the lower respiratory tract, especially the lungs, where the cellular immune responses exacerbate the inflammation rather than fight the infection.
 
However since the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, tonsils and adenoids are the initial point of infection for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the immune responses that are triggered there are of special interest.
 
Also the high rate of asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated at more than 50%, is another reason why mucosal immunity is so important, according to the study team.
 
Dr Russell added, “Something, somewhere, does a fairly good job of controlling the virus. Given that many infected people remain asymptomatic, and that a large number of those who develop symptoms suffer only mild to moderate disease, this suggests that something, somewhere, does a fairly good job of controlling the virus,"
 
He asked, "Could it be that this is due to early mucosal immune responses that succeed in containing and eliminating the infection before it becomes serious? We will not know unless these questions are addressed."
 
The study team recommends that studies are needed to determine the nature of mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibody responses over the course of infection, including asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection, and mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 disease. In addition, the authors point out that the mucosal immune responses may vary depending on different age groups and populations.
 
A proper and detailed focus on mucosal immunity might also make it possible to develop a type of vaccine, such as a nasal vaccine, that could be easier to store, transport and administer. Several such vaccines are now under development for COVID-19 but how far along they are is unknown.
 
Dr Russell added that these vaccines might not have special temperature requirements and might be more palatable for large swaths of the population, especially children, because they would not require an injection.
 
Dr Russell explained, "The potential advantage of a mucosal vaccine especially one that is intranasal is that it should induce immune responses, including SIgA antibodies, in the mucosal tracts, in this case especially the upper respiratory tract, where the coronavirus makes first contact," adding that injected vaccines usually do not do this.
 
Importantly among the areas of study that the authors suggest would be constructive are molecular studies on IgA antibodies and their relationship to the disease stage of COVID-19, and determining the characteristics of cells that secrete IgA antibodies and other mucosal immune cells induced by the infection or by vaccination.
 
Dr Russell further added, "As mucosal immunologists with several decades of experience behind us, we have been perturbed at the lack of attention to this, and we hope to draw attention to this glaring omission. After all, the mucosal immune system is by far the largest component of the entire immune system, and it has evolved to protect the mucosal surfaces where the great majority of infections arise."
 
In summary, based on the route whereby SARS-CoV-2 infection is acquired and the independence of mucosal and systemic responses, there must be a mucosal immune dimension to COVID-19. Whether it makes a significant contribution to the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or can be exploited to good effect for diagnostic purposes or for therapy and prophylaxis, can only be determined by carrying out appropriate investigations. 
 
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