@article{605ad6f584ba4795ba434b8b17600ec7,
title = "Elevated BMI reduces the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection",
abstract = "Objective: Class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg m−2) significantly impairs the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, the effect of an elevated BMI (≥ 25 kg m−2) on humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination remains unclear. Methods: We collected blood samples from people who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection approximately 3 and 13 months of post-infection (noting that these individuals were not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated in the interim). We also collected blood samples from people approximately 5 months of post-second dose COVID-19 vaccination (the majority of whom did not have a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection). We measured their humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2, grouping individuals based on a BMI greater or less than 25 kg m−2. Results: Here, we show that an increased BMI (≥ 25 kg m−2), when accounting for age and sex differences, is associated with reduced antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection. At 3 months of post-infection, an elevated BMI was associated with reduced antibody titres. At 13 months of post-infection, an elevated BMI was associated with reduced antibody avidity and a reduced percentage of spike-positive B cells. In contrast, no significant association was noted between a BMI ≥ 25 kg m−2 and humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 at 5 months of post-secondary vaccination. Conclusions: Taken together, these data showed that elevated BMI is associated with an impaired humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The impairment of infection-induced immunity in individuals with a BMI ≥ 25 kg m−2 suggests an added impetus for vaccination rather than relying on infection-induced immunity.",
keywords = "antibody immunity, BMI, obesity, overweight, SARS-CoV-2",
author = "Tong, {Marcus Z.W.} and Sng, {Julian D.J.} and Meagan Carney and Lucy Cooper and Samuel Brown and Lineburg, {Katie E.} and Chew, {Keng Yih} and Neve Collins and Kirsten Ignacio and Megan Airey and Lucy Burr and Joyce, {Briony A.} and Dhilshan Jayasinghe and McMillan, {Christopher L.D.} and Muller, {David A.} and Anurag Adhikari and Gallo, {Linda A.} and Dorey, {Emily S.} and Barrett, {Helen L.} and Stephanie Gras and Corey Smith and Kim Good-Jacobson and Short, {Kirsty R.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Queensland Health Forensic & Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health who provided the SARS-CoV-2 isolates. The authors also thank all participants who took part in the study. This work was supported by the QIMR Berghofer COVID-19 appeal, the David Serisiser Research Biobank (DSRB), Mater Research Foundation, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF, APP2005654), La Trobe University, an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship 2020001511 (DAM) sponsored by Vaxxas and Technovalia, an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (#1159272; SG) and a NHMRC investigator grant (#2007919; KRS). Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Queensland, as part of the Wiley - The University of Queensland agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. Funding Information: The authors thank Queensland Health Forensic & Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health who provided the SARS‐CoV‐2 isolates. The authors also thank all participants who took part in the study. This work was supported by the QIMR Berghofer COVID‐19 appeal, the David Serisiser Research Biobank (DSRB), Mater Research Foundation, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF, APP2005654), La Trobe University, an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship 2020001511 (DAM) sponsored by Vaxxas and Technovalia, an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (#1159272; SG) and a NHMRC investigator grant (#2007919; KRS). Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Queensland, as part of the Wiley ‐ The University of Queensland agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Clinical & Translational Immunology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology, Inc.",
year = "2023",
doi = "10.1002/cti2.1476",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "Clinical & Translational Immunology",
issn = "2050-0068",
publisher = "John Wiley & Sons",
number = "12",
}