the Study will help to create effective methods of treatment of the novel coronavirus.
People older than 60 years, recover from COVID-19, produce the greatest quantity of neutralizing antibodies. As found by Chinese scientists, plasma obtained from young patients with mild symptoms of infection, contains less protective proteins, which is required to block the biological activity of the pathogen.
it is Expected that in the future new data will allow the most effective to select donors who recover from coronavirus, for the treatment of disease and to establish the optimal period of time in which their assistance will be most effective. Russian experts believe that the technique can be promising, but older people have to undergo especially thorough examination, because usually they already have several concomitant chronic diseases which may be a contraindication for donation.
Scientists from the Shanghai clinical center for public health at Fudan University, published a paper (scientific article, not the last mandatory review process), which explored the relationship develop protective proteins and age of the patients. They measured the neutralizing antibodies in the blood of people with moderate clinical symptoms of a new infection.
it turned Out that their production was observed in 94% of patients (in total, the study involved 175 people) within two weeks after the onset of symptoms.
As noted in the study, older people generally are at greater risk of severe forms of the disease. The researchers conclude that a strong immune response in this group of infected people can explain their fundamental ability to resist the pathogen. However, as stated in the materials of paper, namely neutralizing antibodies showed high efficiency in the treatment and prevention of various viral infections.
Scientists have also studied how the level of neutralizing antibodies in the blood of infected persons correlated with other components of the immune system. Studies have shown that their number is negatively correlated with the level of lymphocytes — immune system cells that recognize foreign antigens and form immune response. The titers of neutralizing antibodies were in positive proportion with C-reactive protein components of blood plasma, which play a protective role in the body and is a marker of inflammatory processes.
researcher of the laboratory of analysis of indicators of population health and the digitization of health MIPT David Naimzada told “Izvestia” that though it is preliminary results, they are very important for elucidating the immunological of pathogenesis of a new infection.
— We already know about the “cytokine storm”, involving immunocompetent cells of the patient (cells able to specifically recognize the antigen and respond to it. — “News”). It is a component of cellular immunity. And the production of specific antibodies — the element to another part of the immune system: cell and humoral (when formed of a substance with safety functions), — said the expert. — And on the relationship of different key performance indicators of these links and sheds light of the given study.
High titers of neutralizing antibodies in patients older than 60 years may be a specific marker, which explains why some elderly people survive and others don’t, have informed “news” the senior researcher of the Institute of Hwa TSU (University — participant of the project of increase of competitiveness of education “5-100”) Maria Orlova.
— the study included only ill people, that is those who survived the disease thanks to an effective immune response. Those who had lower levels of antibodies, could die.
To confirm this hypothesis, scientists have yet to compare the antibody titers among the survivors and deceased elderly patients. infectious disease Physician, employee clinical research MHZ of the Department of AIDS and International center of Virology PFUR Elena Belova told “Izvestia” that it is necessary to investigate those who are in more difficult groups of diseases. For example, people in intensive care.
In a published paper by scientists from China suggested that in the future the results will be applicable in clinical practice. Information about the relationship of age and number of neutralizing antibodies can help to create an effective vaccine against СOVID-19. It is also expected that these data will allow more carefully selected plasma donors and to establish the optimal time period within which this therapy would be most effective.
Russian experts believe that the method of selection of patients based on age and level of antibodies can be promising, but older donors have to undergo especially thorough examination, as they are at risk.
— There are special protocols for tolerance to donation of plasma, — said Elena Belova. And the presence of chronic physical diseases with age, people become significantly more likely to be one of the reasons of the withdrawal of donors.
Today, there are a number of contraindications to blood transfusion, explained “news” the Deputy head of the laboratory of analysis of indicators of population health and the digitization of health MIPT Stanislav Otstavnov. They can but��it is temporary in nature (alcohol, antibiotics, tattooing , etc.) and permanent (HIV, hepatitis, non-infectious chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and nervous systems, respiratory, digestive, cancer and psychiatric diseases).
— People in the age of susceptibility to non-communicable diseases to a much greater extent than the young, because our body tends to wear out, — said the expert.
the Scientist noted that the potential use of blood plasma in the treatment COVID-high 19.
the Question of donation of plasma from the elderly needs to be examined carefully. Scientists stress that while the findings are summarised in the status of the Preprint, they cannot be used in clinical practice. Themselves the authors also warn that further study is needed of the level of specific antibodies recover from coronavirus infection of people of different ages.
