Analysis of immunological features of 135 patients with corona virus disease 2019 in Guangzhou City / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the immunological features of 135 patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to provide reference for the pathogenesis of the disease.Methods:The clinical and laboratory data of 135 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital from January 23 to February 29, 2020 were collected. The features of lymphocytes (CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and natural killer T cells), and cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ) of patients at a median of 19 (14, 27) days of admission were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test and Spearman rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results:Patients were divided into three groups according to the relevant diagnostic criteria, including mild group (14 cases), ordinary group (92 cases) and severe group (29 cases). Decreased CD4 + T lymphocytes were found in 44.4% (60/135) patients, while decreased CD8 + T lymphocytes were found in 42.2%(57/135) patients. Compared to mild group and ordinary group, level of CD4 + T lymphocytes in severe group was significant lower ( Z=4.379 and 3.799, respectively, both P<0.01), and level of CD8 + T lymphocytes was also significant lower ( Z=2.684 and 3.306, respectively, P=0.022 and 0.003, respectively). Decreased B lymphocytes were found in 25.3% (24/95) patients and significant different among the three groups, with the lowest levels ((88(56, 189)/μL; Z=6.199, P=0.045) and most frequency of decreased levels ((52.2%(12/23); χ2=11.723, P=0.003) in the severe group. Compared to the mild group and the ordinary group, IL-6 level in severe group was significant higher ( Z=-4.022 and -4.108, respectively, both P<0.01) and IL-10 level was also significant higher ( Z=-3.261 and -4.006, respectively, both P<0.01). Similar levels of IL-2, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ were found among three groups (all P>0.05). The IL-6 level was positively correlated with the persistence of viral shedding ( r=0.301, P=0.007). Conclusion:The immune-mediated inflammation may be the important cause of disease deterioration of COVID-19, which might be the key target of the treatment of severe cases.