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COVID-19, which emerged in December 2019 and continues to wreak havoc, has led to the death of many people around the world. In this study, we aimed to uncover the variables underlying the exacerbation of the disease by considering the changes in T cell subsets in adults and juveniles with different disease severity of COVID-19. Peripheral blood samples of 193 patients (128 adults and 65 juveniles) diagnosed with COVID-19 were evaluated in a flow cytometer, and a broad T cell profile was revealed by examining T cell subsets in terms of exhaustion and senescence. We found remarkable differences in the effector memory (EM;CD45RA-CCR7-) cell subsets of severe pneumonia cases. The frequencies of EM2 CD4+ T, EM3 CD4+ T, EM3 CD8+ T, EM2 DN T and EM3 DN T cells were found to increase in severe pneumonia cases. Consistently, these cells were found in juveniles and uncomplicated adults in similar or lower proportions to healthy controls. The findings of our study provide a view of the T cell profile that may underlie differences in the course of COVID-19 cases in juveniles and adults and may provide new insights into the development of effective treatment strategies.
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Objective: In COVID-19 disease, it was observed that T lymphocytes decreased numerically, both CD4+ and CD8+ could decrease, and sometimes the CD8+ level increased significantly. The virus-specific CD8+ T-cells are thought to be TEM or TEMRA cells. However, the characteristics of these cells, particularly their role in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 disease, are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the flow cytometric changes observed in T helper, T cytotoxic cells, and subtypes during diagnosis in pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection with SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity. Methods: Twenty-two children aged 0-18, diagnosed with COVID-19, with flow cytometry;T Helper Cell (TH), T Cytotoxic Cell (TC), T Naive Cells (TN), Central Memory (TCM), Effector Memory (TEM), RA + Effector memory (TEMRA) and Recent Thymic Emigrants (RTEs) were studied. Results: T cell counts were found to be expected in all age groups. The CD4/CD8 ratio increased in the under-five and over 16 age group. While TCM among CD4+T cells decreased in the group above 16 years of age, TEM decreased in all age groups. RTEs decreased in all except the age group 16+. Naive CD8+ T cells (TN) were found to be high in all age groups. Conclusion: A low number of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes have been reported as a distinctive laboratory finding in 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Having enough naive T cells is essential for the immune system to respond consistently to unknown pathogens. This study found that these cells were higher than expected in children.
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Objective: To observe early laboratory indicators in peripheral blood of patients infected with SARSCoV- 2 Delta variant and the protective effects of COVID-19 vaccine on patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, in order to provide reference for epidemic prevention and control. Methods: Twenty-five Chengdu local confirmed nonsevere COVID-19 patients over 18 years old who were infected with COVID-19 caused by Delta variant in November 2021 were included as the research group, 22 cases of whom were vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine before infection, and 3(2 cases over 80 years old)were unvaccinated. In addition, 71 non-severe COVID-19 patients at the age of over 18 years diagnosed in Chengdu from January 2020 to February 2020 were included as the control group. Peripheral blood was collected for laboratory examination in all cases on the first or second days after admission, and peripheral blood was collected for laboratory examination again in patients on day 4 to 8 after admission in the research group. Laboratory indicators included the blood routine, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, liver function, myocardial enzyme profile, coagulation routine, T lymphocyte subsets, SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody, and total antibody, etc. The first peripheral blood laboratory test results: of the two groups were compared to observe the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccine on patients infected with SARS-CoV- 2 Delta variant. Results Among the first time of laboratory indicators after admission, the lymphocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase, and D-dimer in the research group were all lower than those in the control group(all P < 0.05), and the procalcitonin and aspartate aminotransferase were higher than those in the control group(all P < 0.05). Among the 22 cases who had gotten vaccine before infection in the research group, there were 5 cases with positive result of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in the first time of peripheral blood, 22 cases with positive result of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in the second time of peripheral blood, and none of them became severe cases. During 3 unvaccinated cases, twice of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody were both negative among the 2 cases over 80 years who had not vaccinated in the research group, then they became severe cases on day 6-8 during hospitalization, and the rest one had negative result of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in the second time of peripheral blood. Among the 22 vaccinated cases in the research group, the lymphocyte count, CD4+T cell count, CD8+T cell count, SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in the second time peripheral blood were all higher than those in the first time of peripheral blood(all P < 0.05), and platelet count, hemoglobin, total protein, creatine kinase were all lower than those in the first time of peripheral blood(all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Lymphocyte count at early admission in COVID-19 patients infected with Delta variant may be lower than that infected with wild strain. COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of infection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant by preventing the emergence of inflammatory storms and producing a large number of specific antibodies.
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Introduction: Although CD4 and CD8 T-cells are the main subset of T-lymphocytes, their roles in COVID-19 infection and severity remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the role of increased CD4/CD8 T-cells ratio as a risk factor for cases of 28-days in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This study employed a prospective cohort design. Inclusion criteria were confirmed COVID-19 cases with a positive polymerase chain reaction report. CD4 and CD8 T-cells absolute counts were measured by flow cytometry. The CD4/CD8 ratio was calculated by dividing the absolute count of CD4 by that of CD8 T-cells. Results: A total of 85 subjects were followed for 28 days. The mean age of the subjects was 52.64 years, and majority of them were females (51.8%). Twenty-eight (32.9%) subjects died within 28 days of follow-up. Receiver operating characteristics analysis obtained an area under curve of 0.68 with the cut-off value 1.26 with p = 0.005. Kaplan-Meier's analysis obtained Hazard Ratio 2.91 (95%CI 1.377-6.161;p = 0.0052). Conclusion: Subjects with an increase in CD4/CD8 T-cells ratio >1.26 had a 2.91-times risk of 28 days in-hospital mortality.
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To determine the clinical value of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) in treatment of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). According to the random-number method, 104 NCP patients were divided equally into control group and observation group in our hospital. In the control group, patients were treated according to the Pneumonia diagnosis and treatment scheme for new coronavirus infection (trial version 5). In the observation group, patients were administered DG enteric capsules (150 mg, t.d.s.). All patients were treated continuously for 2 weeks. The clinical effects in both groups were observed. Levels of inflammation indicators [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL) -4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -a] and immune-function indicators [cluster of differentiation (CD)3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+] were compared between the two groups. Adverse reactions were documented. The prevalence of cure [19.23% (10/52) vs. 7.69% (4/ 52)], significant efficacy [28.85% (15/52) vs. 17.31% (9/52)] and total efficacy [61.54% (32/52) vs. 40.38% (20/52)] of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). After treatment, the serum levels of CRP [(1.90 +or- 085) vs. (3.26 +or- 1.63) mg/L], IL-4 [(21.35 +or- 8.90) vs. (26.24 +or- 9.16) pg/mL], and TNF-a [(4.85 +or- 2.15) vs. (7.97 +or- 3.36) pg/mL] of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). The levels of CD3+ [(6630 +or- 8.83)% vs. (54.19 +or- 7.79)%], CD4+ [(39.42 +or- 4.72)% vs, (33.18 +or- 4.10)%], CD8+ [(28.14 +or- 4.22)% vs. (23.39 +or- 3.88)%], and CD4+/CD8+ [(1.62+or- 043) vs. (1.21 +or- 0.29)] of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). The prevalence of adverse reactions [15.38% (8/52) vs. 28.85% (15/52)] of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). DG has a significant clinical effect and a good safety profile for NCP treatment.
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Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of high-dose clodronate liposomes (CL) treatment on the growth of Plasmodium yoelii 17XL (Py17XL) in mice.
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Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of Qingfei Paidu decoction in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)and to explore the possible mechanism.
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Background/aim: This study was to describe the clinical characteristics, chest CT image findings, and potential role of T cells immunity in adenovirus positive pneumonia. Materials/methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of 53 adult Adv+ patients who were admitted to the Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, from May 2015 to August 2019 were included. The presence of adenovirus and other respiratory viruses was detected using polymerase chain reaction of throat swabs samples. Clinical features and chest computed tomography (CT) findings were compared between patients with Adv+ pneumonia and Adv+ non-pneumonia.
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Objective: Deficiencies in immune-regulatory mechanisms such as immune activation and T-regulatory cells are classically referred to as cytokine storms. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) act as living anti-inflammatory cells that can rebalance cytokine/immune responses to restore balance in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome by reducing the activation of T and B cells, and dendritic and natural killer cells. The aim of this study is to provide immune modulation with stem cell transplantation by reducing the damage caused and COVID-19 infection to tissues and organs. Material and Methods: In this prospective randomized single-center clinical trial, patients were divided into 3 groups: intubated without comorbidity (n = 7);intubated with comorbidity (n = 7);not intubated (n = 7). Dosage of MSCs transplantation for each group was 1 million cell/kg intravenous at days 0, 2, and 4. age, gender, APACHE II scores, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte values, and cluster of difference 4 (CD4), CD8, interleukin 2 (IL-2), and IL-6 levels, morbidities, number of days in intensive care unit, mortality were recorded. Clinical results, changes in inflammatory and immune function levels, and side effects were evaluated. Each patient's improvement in oxygenation and symptoms were recorded in the days after MSC transplantation. After treatment, lymphocyte, CRP, tumor necrosis factor-a level, and IL-6 levels were recorded.
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Objective: To retrospectively analyze the follow-up data of 134 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Guangzhou one year after they were discharged from the hospital and summarize their characteristics, and we provide a basis for further evaluation of long-term efficacy of COVID-19 patients.