Patterns of Inflammatory Cell Infiltration and Expression of STAT6 in the Lungs of Patients With COVID-19: An Autopsy Study.
Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol
; 30(5): 350-357, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1774457
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), lymphocyte infiltration in the lungs and a cytokine storm. In this study we examined inflammatory cell infiltrates and the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 in the lungs of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).METHODS:
Eighteen COVID-19 autopsy cases, 9 non-COVID cases with DAD, and 11 controls without lung diseases were included. Immunostainings for STAT6, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, and broad-spectrum keratins were performed.RESULTS:
The average age of COVID-19 patients was 64.4±2.1 years. The disease duration was 7 to 53 days. The number of pneumocytes, macrophages or CD3+ T cells was significantly increased in the lungs of patients with COVID-19. Patients' age above 67 years, blood troponin levels >0.2 ng/mL, platelet count >100×109/L, lung macrophages >130/high-power field (HPF), CD3+ T cells >145/HPF, CD8+ T cells <30/HPF, and CD8/CD4 ratio <1 were associated with shorter survival duration after onset of symptoms. In addition, STAT6 staining was much stronger in pneumocytes and lymphocytes in the lungs of patients with COVID-19 than non-COVID DAD patients or controls.CONCLUSION:
Older age, high blood troponin level and platelet count, more macrophages and fewer CD8+ T cells in the lungs of COVID-19 were associated with poorer outcome. STAT6 expression was increased in pneumocytes and lymphocytes in the lungs of patients with COVID-19, implying a role of STAT6 in cytokine storms.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol
Journal subject:
Molecular Biology
/
Histocytochemistry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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