Objectives: The immunologic profile and opportunistic viral DNA increase were monitored in Italian patients with COVID-19 in order to identify markers of disease severity. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated in the study. Of them, 42/104 (40.4%) were hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and 62/104(59.6%) in a sub-intensive care unit (SICU). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Parvovirus B19 and Human Herpesvirus 6 virus reactivations were determined by real-time PCR, and lymphocyte subpopulation counts were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Among opportunistic viruses, only EBV was consistently detected. EBV DNA was observed in 40/42 (95.2%) of the ICU patients and in 51/61 (83.6%) of the SICU patients. Comparing the two groups of patients, the EBV DNA median level among ICU patients was significantly higher than that observed in SICU patients. In parallel, a significant reduction of CD8 T cell and NK count in ICU patients as compared with SICU patients was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, B cell count was significantly increased in ICU patients (p = 0.0172). Conclusions: A correlation between reduced CD8+ T cells and NK counts, EBV DNA levels and COVID-19 severity was observed. Other opportunistic viral infections were not observed. The relationship between EBV load and COVID-19 severity should be further evaluated in longitudinal studies.

EBV DNA increase in COVID-19 patients with impaired lymphocyte subpopulation count / S. Paolucci, I. Cassaniti, F. Novazzi, L. Fiorina, A. Piralla, G. Comolli, R. Bruno, R. Maserati, R. Gulminetti, S. Novati, F. Mojoli, F. Baldanti, R. Bruno, M. Mondelli, E. Brunetti, A. Di Matteo, E. Seminari, L. Maiocchi, V. Zuccaro, L. Pagnucco, B. Mariani, S. Ludovisi, R. Lissandrin, A. Parisi, P. Sacchi, S.F.A. Patruno, G. Michelone, R. Gulminetti, D. Zanaboni, S. Novati, R. Maserati, P. Orsolini, M. Vecchia, M. Sciarra, E. Asperges, M. Colaneri, A. Di Filippo, M. Sambo, S. Biscarini, M. Lupi, S. Roda, T.C. Pieri, I. Gallazzi, M. Sachs, P. Valsecchi, S. Perlini, C. Alfano, M. Bonzano, F. Briganti, G. Crescenzi, A.G. Falchi, R. Guarnone, B. Guglielmana, E. Maggi, I. Martino, P. Pettenazza, S. Pioli di Marco, F. Quaglia, A. Sabena, F. Salinaro, F. Speciale, I. Zunino, M. De Lorenzo, G. Secco, L. Dimitry, G. Cappa, I. Maisak, B. Chiodi, M. Sciarrini, B. Barcella, F. Resta, L. Moroni, G. Vezzoni, L. Scattaglia, E. Boscolo, C. Zattera, M.F. Tassi, V. Capozza, D. Vignaroli, M. Bazzini, G. Iotti, F. Mojoli, M. Belliato, L. Perotti, S. Mongodi, G. Tavazzi, G. Marseglia, A. Licari, I. Brambilla, D. Barbarini, A. Bruno, P. Cambieri, G. Campanini, C. Cavanna, G. Comolli, M. Corbella, R. Daturi, M. Furione, P. Marone, E. Monzillo, S. Paolucci, M. Parea, E. Percivalle, A. Piralla, F. Rovida, A. Sarasini, M. Zavattoni, G. Adzasehoun, M. Ardizzone, L. Bellotti, V. Brunco, E. Cabano, G. Casali, L. Capella, D. Devitis, L. Dossena, G. Frisco, G. Garbagnoli, F. Gardellini, A. Girello, A. Guerrizio, V. Landini, C. Lucchelli, V. Maliardi, P. Piemontese, S. Pezzaia, M. Premoli, C. Rebuffa, C. Zanello, J. Bagnarino, F. Bergami, A. Bonetti, G. Caneva, I. Cassaniti, A. Corcione, R. Di Martino, A. Di Napoli, A. Ferrari, G. Ferrari, L. Fiorina, A. Gallone, F. Giardina, A. Girardi, A. Mercato, C. Merla, F. Novazzi, G. Ratano, B. Rossi, G. Saveriaempillai, I.M. Sciabica, M. Tallarita, E. Vecchio Nepita, J. Vitali, A. Cerino, S. Varchetta, B. Oliviero, S. Mantovani, D. Mele, M. Calvi, M. Tizzoni, C. Nicora, A. Triarico, V. Petronella, C. Marena, A. Muzzi, P. Lago, S. Cutti, V. Novelli, F. Comandatore, G. BatistiBiffignandi, S. Gaiarsa, M. Rettani, C. Bandi. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - ISSN 1201-9712. - 104(2021 Mar), pp. 315-319.

EBV DNA increase in COVID-19 patients with impaired lymphocyte subpopulation count

F. Comandatore;C. Bandi
2021

Abstract

Objectives: The immunologic profile and opportunistic viral DNA increase were monitored in Italian patients with COVID-19 in order to identify markers of disease severity. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated in the study. Of them, 42/104 (40.4%) were hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and 62/104(59.6%) in a sub-intensive care unit (SICU). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Parvovirus B19 and Human Herpesvirus 6 virus reactivations were determined by real-time PCR, and lymphocyte subpopulation counts were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Among opportunistic viruses, only EBV was consistently detected. EBV DNA was observed in 40/42 (95.2%) of the ICU patients and in 51/61 (83.6%) of the SICU patients. Comparing the two groups of patients, the EBV DNA median level among ICU patients was significantly higher than that observed in SICU patients. In parallel, a significant reduction of CD8 T cell and NK count in ICU patients as compared with SICU patients was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, B cell count was significantly increased in ICU patients (p = 0.0172). Conclusions: A correlation between reduced CD8+ T cells and NK counts, EBV DNA levels and COVID-19 severity was observed. Other opportunistic viral infections were not observed. The relationship between EBV load and COVID-19 severity should be further evaluated in longitudinal studies.
COVID-19; EBV DNA; Lymphocyte subpopulation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; COVID-19; DNA, Viral; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocyte Subsets; Male; Middle Aged; Opportunistic Infections; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Load
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
Settore BIO/19 - Microbiologia Generale
mar-2021
17-dic-2020
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/848166
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