tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Cell Mol Med
. 2020 Nov 3.
doi: 10.1111/jcmm.16044. Online ahead of print.
Dynamics of NK, CD8 and Tfh cell mediated the production of cytokines and antiviral antibodies in Chinese patients with moderate COVID-19
Lin Yan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bei Cai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yi Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Min-Jin Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yun-Fei An[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rong Deng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dong-Dong Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Li-Chun Wang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Huan Xu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xue-Dan Gao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lan-Lan Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated a marked decrease in peripheral lymphocyte levels in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Few studies have focused on the changes of NK, T- and B-cell subsets, inflammatory cytokines and virus-specific antibodies in patients with moderate COVID-19. A total of 11 RT-PCR-confirmed convalescent patients with COVID-19 and 11 patients with non-SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (control patients) were enrolled in this study. NK, CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T, CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T, Tfh-like and B-cell subsets were analysed using flow cytometry. Cytokines and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were analysed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. NK cell counts were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in control patients (P = 0.017). Effector memory CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T-cell counts significantly increased in patients with COVID-19 during a convalescent period of 1 week (P = 0.041). TIM-3[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell and CD226[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell counts significantly increased (P = 0.027) and decreased (P = 0.022), respectively, during the same period. Moreover, ICOS[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell counts tended to decrease (P = 0.074). No abnormal increase in cytokine levels was observed. The high expression of NK cells is important in innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The increase in effector memory CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T-cell counts, the up-regulation of inhibitory molecules and the down-regulation of active molecules on CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells and Tfh-like cells in patients with COVID-19 would benefit the maintenance of balanced cellular and humoural immune responses, may prevent the development of severe cases and contribute to the recovery of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: CD8; COVID-19; NK; TIM-3; Tfh.
. 2020 Nov 3.
doi: 10.1111/jcmm.16044. Online ahead of print.
Dynamics of NK, CD8 and Tfh cell mediated the production of cytokines and antiviral antibodies in Chinese patients with moderate COVID-19
Lin Yan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bei Cai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yi Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Min-Jin Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yun-Fei An[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rong Deng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dong-Dong Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Li-Chun Wang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Huan Xu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xue-Dan Gao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lan-Lan Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33145962
- DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16044
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated a marked decrease in peripheral lymphocyte levels in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Few studies have focused on the changes of NK, T- and B-cell subsets, inflammatory cytokines and virus-specific antibodies in patients with moderate COVID-19. A total of 11 RT-PCR-confirmed convalescent patients with COVID-19 and 11 patients with non-SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (control patients) were enrolled in this study. NK, CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T, CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T, Tfh-like and B-cell subsets were analysed using flow cytometry. Cytokines and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were analysed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. NK cell counts were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in control patients (P = 0.017). Effector memory CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T-cell counts significantly increased in patients with COVID-19 during a convalescent period of 1 week (P = 0.041). TIM-3[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell and CD226[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell counts significantly increased (P = 0.027) and decreased (P = 0.022), respectively, during the same period. Moreover, ICOS[SUP]+[/SUP] Tfh-like cell counts tended to decrease (P = 0.074). No abnormal increase in cytokine levels was observed. The high expression of NK cells is important in innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The increase in effector memory CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T-cell counts, the up-regulation of inhibitory molecules and the down-regulation of active molecules on CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells and Tfh-like cells in patients with COVID-19 would benefit the maintenance of balanced cellular and humoural immune responses, may prevent the development of severe cases and contribute to the recovery of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: CD8; COVID-19; NK; TIM-3; Tfh.