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. 2021 Apr;41(4):850-859.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-00805-w. Epub 2020 Sep 1.

Difference in levels of SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 subunits- and nucleocapsid protein-reactive SIgM/IgM, IgG and SIgA/IgA antibodies in human milk

Veronique Demers-Mathieu  1   2 , Dung M Do  3 , Gabrielle B Mathijssen  3 , David A Sela  4 , Antti Seppo  5 , Kirsi M Järvinen  5 , Elena Medo  3
Affiliations

Difference in levels of SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 subunits- and nucleocapsid protein-reactive SIgM/IgM, IgG and SIgA/IgA antibodies in human milk

Veronique Demers-Mathieu et al. J Perinatol. 2021 Apr.

Erratum in

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the presence and the levels of antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 subunits (S1 + S2), and nucleocapsid protein.

Study design: The levels of SARS-CoV-2 S1 + S2- and nucleocapsid-reactive SIgM/IgM, IgG and SIgA/IgA were measured in human milk samples from 41 women during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-HM) and from 16 women 2 years prior to the outbreak (2018-HM).

Results: SARS-CoV-2 S1 + S2-reactive SIgA/IgA, SIgM/IgM and IgG were detected in 97.6%, 68.3% and 58.5% in human milk whereas nucleocapsid-reactive antibodies were detected in 56.4%, 87.2% and 46.2%, respectively. S1 + S2-reactive IgG was higher in milk from women that had symptoms of viral respiratory infection(s) during the last year than in milk from women without symptom. S1 + S2- and nucleocapsid-reactive IgG were higher in the 2020-HM group compared to the 2018-HM group.

Conclusions: The presence of SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies in human milk could provide passive immunity to breastfed infants and protect them against COVID-19 diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

VDM, DMD, GBM and EM are employees at Medolac Laboratories. DAS is on the scientific advisory board for Medolac Laboratories. AS and KMJ have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Percentage of detected antibodies reactive to S1 and S2 subunits (S1 + S2), and nucleocapsid from SARS-CoV-2 in human milk collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
S1+S2-reactive a secretory IgM (SIgM)/IgM, b IgG and c secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA in human milk from 41 women. Nucleocapsid-reactive d SIgM/IgM, e IgG and f SIgA/IgA. Milk expression period was from 30/02/20 to 03/04/20 in the United States.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. The levels of SARS-CoV-2-reactive to S1 and S2 subunits (S1 + S2) and nucleocapsid in human milk collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The levels of a S1 + S2- and b nucleocapsid-reactive secretory IgM (SIgM)/IgM, IgG, and secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA in human milk. Values are mean ± SD, n = 41 for women. Asterisks show statistically significant differences between variables (***p < 0.001; **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05) using the Friedman test followed by Dunn’s test (correction for multiple comparisons). c The levels of SARS-CoV-2 S1 + S2-reactive IgG in human milk between vaccinated women (n = 26) and unvaccinated women (n = 15). d The level of SARS-CoV-2 S1 + S2-reactive IgG in human milk between influenza-vaccinated mothers (n = 18) and non-influenza-vaccinated (n = 23). e The levels of SARS-CoV-2 S1 + S2-reactive IgG in human milk between women that had at least one symptom (self-reported) of viral respiratory infection (cold, fever and/or nasal/sinus congestion) (n = 15) during the last year and women without symptoms of viral infection (n = 12). Values are mean ± SD. Asterisks show statistically significant differences between variables (**p < 0.01; *p < 0.05) using the Mann–Whitney test (unpaired nonparametric test).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. The levels of antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 subunits (S1 + S2) and nucleocapsid in human milk collected during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-HM) and 2 years prior this pandemic (2018-HM).
Levels of S1 + S2-reactive a secretory IgM (SIgM)/IgM, b IgG and c secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA in 2020-HM and 2018-HM. Levels of nucleocapsid-reactive d SIgM/IgM, e IgG and f SIgA/IgA in 2020-HM and 2018-HM. Values are mean ± SD, n = 41 for 2020-HM and n = 16 for 2018-HM. Asterisks show statistically significant differences between variables (*p < 0.05) using the Mann–Whitney test (unpaired nonparametric test). ns Not statistically significant.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Regression linear between antibodies reactive to SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 subunits (S1 + S2) and nucleocapsid in human milk collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in 41 women.
a Positive correlation of S1 + S2-reactive secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA and S1 + S2-reactive secretory IgM (SIgM)/IgM. b Positive correlation between S1 + S2-reactive SIgA/IgA and nucleocapsid-reactive SIgA/IgA. c Positive correlation between nucleocapsid-reactive SIgA/IgA and SIgM/IgM. d Positive correlation between nucleocapsid-reactive SIgM/IgM and S1 + S2-reactive SIgM/IgM. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were determined when p < 0.1.
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