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).
Titolo: | Early Phases of COVID-19 Are Characterized by a Reduction in Lymphocyte Populations and the Presence of Atypical Monocytes |
Autori: | BANDERA, ALESSANDRA (Ultimo) |
Parole Chiave: | 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 Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/10 - Malattie dell'Apparato Respiratorio |
Data di pubblicazione: | 9-dic-2020 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.560330 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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