Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a recently discovered pathogen responsible of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The immunological changes associated with this infection are largely unknown. Methods: We evaluated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells profile of 63 patients with COVID-19 at diagnosis. We also assessed the presence of association with inflammatory biomarkers and the 28-day mortality. Results: Lymphocytopenia was present in 51 of 63 (80.9%) patients, with a median value of 720 lymphocytes/µl (IQR 520-1,135). This reduction was mirrored also on CD8+ (128 cells/µl, IQR 55-215), natural killer (67 cells/µl, IQR 35–158) and natural killer T (31 cells/µl, IQR 11–78) cells. Monocytes were preserved in total number but displayed among them a subpopulation with a higher forward and side scatter properties, composed mainly of cells with a reduced expression of both CD14 and HLA-DR. Patients who died in the 28 days from admission (N=10, 15.9%), when compared to those who did not, displayed lower mean values of CD3+ (337.4 cells/µl vs 585.9 cells/µl; p=0.028) and CD4+ cells (232.2 cells/µl vs 381.1 cells/µl; p=0.042) and an higher percentage of CD8+/CD38+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes (13.5% vs 7.6%; p=0.026). Discussion: The early phases of COVID-19 are characterized by lymphocytopenia, predominance of Th2-like lymphocytes and monocytes with altered immune profile, which include atypical mononuclear cells.

Early Phases of COVID-19 Are Characterized by a Reduction in Lymphocyte Populations and the Presence of Atypical Monocytes / A. Lombardi, E. Trombetta, A. Cattaneo, V. Castelli, E. Palomba, M. Tirone, D. Mangioni, G. Lamorte, M. Manunta, D. Prati, F. Ceriotti, R. Gualtierotti, G. Costantino, S. Aliberti, V. Scaravilli, G. Grasselli, A. Gori, L. Porretti, A. Bandera. - In: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 1664-3224. - 11:(2020 Dec 09), pp. 560330.1-560330.9. [10.3389/fimmu.2020.560330]

Early Phases of COVID-19 Are Characterized by a Reduction in Lymphocyte Populations and the Presence of Atypical Monocytes

A. Lombardi
;
V. Castelli;E. Palomba;D. Mangioni;M. Manunta;R. Gualtierotti;G. Costantino;S. Aliberti;V. Scaravilli;G. Grasselli;A. Gori;A. Bandera
Ultimo
2020

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a recently discovered pathogen responsible of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The immunological changes associated with this infection are largely unknown. Methods: We evaluated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells profile of 63 patients with COVID-19 at diagnosis. We also assessed the presence of association with inflammatory biomarkers and the 28-day mortality. Results: Lymphocytopenia was present in 51 of 63 (80.9%) patients, with a median value of 720 lymphocytes/µl (IQR 520-1,135). This reduction was mirrored also on CD8+ (128 cells/µl, IQR 55-215), natural killer (67 cells/µl, IQR 35–158) and natural killer T (31 cells/µl, IQR 11–78) cells. Monocytes were preserved in total number but displayed among them a subpopulation with a higher forward and side scatter properties, composed mainly of cells with a reduced expression of both CD14 and HLA-DR. Patients who died in the 28 days from admission (N=10, 15.9%), when compared to those who did not, displayed lower mean values of CD3+ (337.4 cells/µl vs 585.9 cells/µl; p=0.028) and CD4+ cells (232.2 cells/µl vs 381.1 cells/µl; p=0.042) and an higher percentage of CD8+/CD38+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes (13.5% vs 7.6%; p=0.026). Discussion: The early phases of COVID-19 are characterized by lymphocytopenia, predominance of Th2-like lymphocytes and monocytes with altered immune profile, which include atypical mononuclear cells.
COVID-19; immune profiling; inflammation; monocytes; peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SARS-CoV-2; Aged; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; COVID-19; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Natural Killer T-Cells; SARS-CoV-2
Settore MED/10 - Malattie dell'Apparato Respiratorio
Settore MED/17 - Malattie Infettive
9-dic-2020
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/814148
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