Published
26 February 2025
  • Journal article

Increased SARS-CoV-2 IgG4 has variable consequences dependent upon Fc function, Fc receptor polymorphism, and viral variant

Authors
Aurelia, L Carissa; 
Purcell, Ruth A; 
Theisen, Robert M; 
Kelly, Andrew; 
Esterbauer, Robyn; 
Ramanathan, Pradhipa; 
Lee, Wen Shi; 
Wines, Bruce D; 
Hogarth, P Mark; 
Juno, Jennifer A; 
Allen, Lilith F; 
Bond, Katherine A; 
Williamson, Deborah A; 
Trevillyan, Janine M; 
Trubiano, Jason A; 
Nguyen, Thi Ho; 
Kedzierska, Katherine; 
Wheatley, Adam K; 
Kent, Stephen J; 
Arnold, Kelly B; 
Selva, Kevin John; 
Chung, Amy W. 
Source
Science Advances

Abstract

Repeated mRNA COVID-19 vaccination increases spike-specific immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) titers. Here, we characterized the influence of increased IgG4 titers on a range of Fc-mediated responses. Elevated spike-specific IgG4 reduced binding to FcγRIIIa and decreased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. However, in individuals with lower total spike-specific IgG, IgG4 acted in synergy with other IgG subclasses to improve FcγRI and FcγRIIa binding and consequently antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. Furthermore, this trend was more pronounced with more recent SARS-CoV-2 variants where vaccination induced comparably lower total spike-specific titers. These observations were further confirmed by in silico modeling where antibody subclass concentrations and FcγR polymorphisms were modulated. Collectively, we illustrate that the impact of elevated IgG4 titers upon Fc functions is dependent on multiple interconnected antibody and antigen factors, which should be taken into consideration when dissecting the mechanisms driving an effective Fc-mediated response following vaccination.

Rights

Copyright © 2025 the Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S.Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution license 4.0 (CC BY). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cite as

Aurelia, L., Purcell, R., Theisen, R., Kelly, A., Esterbauer, R., Ramanathan, P., Lee, W., Wines, B., Hogarth, P., Juno, J., Allen, L., Bond, K., Williamson, D., Trevillyan, J., Trubiano, J., Nguyen, T., Kedzierska, K., Wheatley, A., Kent, S., Arnold, K., Selva, K. & Chung, A. 2025, 'Increased SARS-CoV-2 IgG4 has variable consequences dependent upon Fc function, Fc receptor polymorphism, and viral variant', Science Advances, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads1482

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Topics
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Keywords
COVID-19 Pandemics Vaccination
Funder
Australian Medical Research Future Fund; 
NHMRC Investigator Grant
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Source repository
University of St Andrews
Last updated: 22 April 2025
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