Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40339608›Full record

ArticleVirus research2025

Plasma SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen levels are associated with lung infection and tissue-damage biomarkers.

Jing Chen, Shuai Zhao, Haiyang Yan, Yaomeng Huang, Congzhen Wei, Jiajia Liu, Jingna Sun

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virus research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jing ChenDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Shuai ZhaoDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Haiyang YanDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Yaomeng HuangDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Congzhen WeiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Jiajia LiuDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. Electronic address: 18133828516@163.com.
Jingna SunDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Hebei Innovation Center of Clinical Medical Laboratory Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. Electronic address: 57600491@hebmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen has been confirmed in the peripheral blood of patients with new coronavirus infection,yet its diagnostic and prognostic significance remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 N antigenemia in patients with novel coronavirus positivity, and to assess its potential association with clinical severity and plasma biomarker levels.

methodsWe analyzed the level of SARS-CoV-2 N antigen, spike receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) IgG, neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and tissue-damage biomarkers was assessed in 180 plasma samples from 51 SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. Plasma antigen levels were compared with concurrent respiratory nucleic acid amplification test results.

resultsPatients with Ct values below 30 showed significantly different serum antigen levels compared to those with Ct values above 30 (p < 0.01). However, no significant positive correlation was found between respiratory viral load and serum antigen levels. Further analysis revealed that patients with pneumonia had markedly higher serum antigen levels than those without (p < 0.0001). Additionally, serum amyloid A (SAA) and ferritin (Fe) levels were significantly elevated in the antigenemia-positive group compared to the negative group, while procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels showed no significant differences. Notably, the positivity rate of N antigen in peripheral blood peaked at 47.1% (95% CI: 37.8%-56.7%) during the first week of infection and then gradually decreased over time. Moreover, patients with severe COVID-19 exhibited significantly higher serum antigen levels than those with mild or moderate disease (p < 0.0001). Serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were also significantly higher in antigenemia-negative patients than in antigenemia-positive patients (p < 0.0001).

conclusionsOur findings highlight the multifaceted role of antigenemia in SARS-CoV-2 and suggest its potential as a biomarker for disease monitoring and risk stratification.

Indexed as

Antigens, ViralCoronavirus Nucleocapsid ProteinsCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2AdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralBiomarkersFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GMaleMiddle AgedPhosphoproteinsAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralAntigens, ViralBiomarkersCoronavirus Nucleocapsid ProteinsImmunoglobulin Gnucleocapsid phosphoprotein, SARS-CoV-2PhosphoproteinsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2Disease progressionN antigenemiaTissue-damage biomarkers

Identifiers

PMID40339608
PMCPMC12141954

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.