In a recent study, researchers looked at how patient traits and COVID-19 infection may impact HIV-positive individuals’ antibody responses, which include reactions to SARS-CoV-2 proteins as well as those to other viral proteins like cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins. (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Graphical abstract.
The study used data from the global REPRIEVE, a significant ongoing cardiovascular prevention trial examining the effects of statins in HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.
The total study showed that higher CMV and EBV antibody responses were linked to COVID-19 infection. Higher BMI was linked to an amplified SARS-CoV-2 response in COVID-positive individuals, while lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count (a person’s lowest CD4+ T-cell count) was linked to an ineffective or weakly functional antibody response to SARS-CoV-2.
This research may offer fresh molecular perspectives on the immediate and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Journal article: Schnittman, S.R., et al., 2023. Effect of host factors and COVID-19 infection on the humoral immune repertoire in treated HIV. JCI Insight.
Summary by Stefan Botha