tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Immunology
. 2023 Feb 28.
doi: 10.1111/imm.13635. Online ahead of print.
T cell maturation is significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection
Laura Otto Walter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chandra Chiappin Cardoso[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Íris Mattos Santos-Pirath[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Heloisa Zorzi Costa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rafaela Gartner[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Isabel Werle[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Eduarda Talita Bramorski Mohr[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Salvan da Rosa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tainá Larissa Lubschinski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mariano Felisberto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Iara Fabricia Kretzer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ivete Ioshiko Masukawa[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Patrícia de Almeida Vanny[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Magali Chaves Luiz[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Ana Carolina Rabello de Moraes[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Eduardo Monguilhott Dalmarco[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Maria Claudia Santos-Silva[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. An adequate T-cell response is essential not only for fighting disease but also for creation of immune memory. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the T cells of patients with moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19 not only at the time of illness but also two months after diagnosis to observe whether changes in this compartment persist.
Methods: In this study, 166 COVID-19 patients were stratified into moderate/severe and critical disease categories. The maturation and activation of T cells were evaluated through flow cytometry. In addition, Treg cells were analyzed.
Results: Until 15 days after diagnosis, patients presented a reduction in absolute and relative T lymphocyte counts. After two months, in moderate/severe patients, the counts returned to a similar level as that of the control group. In convalescent patients who had a critical illness, absolute T lymphocyte values increased considerably. Patients with active disease did not show differentiation of T cells. Nonetheless, after two months, patients with critical COVID-19 showed a significant increase in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] EMRA (CD45RA[SUP]+[/SUP] effector memory) T lymphocytes. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients showed delayed T cell activation and reduced CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] suppressor T cells even two months after diagnosis. A reduction in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] Treg cells was also observed, and their numbers returned to a similar level as that of healthy controls in convalescent patients.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that COVID-19 patients have a delayed activation and differentiation of T cells. In addition, these patients have a great reduction of T cells with a suppressor phenotype. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T lymphocytes; Treg; immune system.
. 2023 Feb 28.
doi: 10.1111/imm.13635. Online ahead of print.
T cell maturation is significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection
Laura Otto Walter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chandra Chiappin Cardoso[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Íris Mattos Santos-Pirath[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Heloisa Zorzi Costa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rafaela Gartner[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Isabel Werle[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Eduarda Talita Bramorski Mohr[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Salvan da Rosa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tainá Larissa Lubschinski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mariano Felisberto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Iara Fabricia Kretzer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ivete Ioshiko Masukawa[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Patrícia de Almeida Vanny[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Magali Chaves Luiz[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Ana Carolina Rabello de Moraes[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Eduardo Monguilhott Dalmarco[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Maria Claudia Santos-Silva[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36855300
- DOI: 10.1111/imm.13635
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. An adequate T-cell response is essential not only for fighting disease but also for creation of immune memory. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the T cells of patients with moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19 not only at the time of illness but also two months after diagnosis to observe whether changes in this compartment persist.
Methods: In this study, 166 COVID-19 patients were stratified into moderate/severe and critical disease categories. The maturation and activation of T cells were evaluated through flow cytometry. In addition, Treg cells were analyzed.
Results: Until 15 days after diagnosis, patients presented a reduction in absolute and relative T lymphocyte counts. After two months, in moderate/severe patients, the counts returned to a similar level as that of the control group. In convalescent patients who had a critical illness, absolute T lymphocyte values increased considerably. Patients with active disease did not show differentiation of T cells. Nonetheless, after two months, patients with critical COVID-19 showed a significant increase in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] EMRA (CD45RA[SUP]+[/SUP] effector memory) T lymphocytes. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients showed delayed T cell activation and reduced CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] suppressor T cells even two months after diagnosis. A reduction in CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] Treg cells was also observed, and their numbers returned to a similar level as that of healthy controls in convalescent patients.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that COVID-19 patients have a delayed activation and differentiation of T cells. In addition, these patients have a great reduction of T cells with a suppressor phenotype. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T lymphocytes; Treg; immune system.