Major alterations to monocyte and dendritic cell subsets lasting more than 6 months after hospitalization for COVID-19.
Front Immunol
; 13: 1082912, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2231035
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
After more than two years the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to burden healthcare systems and economies worldwide, and it is evident that the effects on the immune system can persist for months post-infection. The activity of myeloid cells such as monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) is essential for correct mobilization of the innate and adaptive responses to a pathogen. Impaired levels and responses of monocytes and DC to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is likely to be a driving force behind the immune dysregulation that characterizes severe COVID-19.Methods:
Here, we followed a cohort of COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the early waves of the pandemic for 6-7 months. The levels and phenotypes of circulating monocyte and DC subsets were assessed to determine both the early and long-term effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.Results:
We found increased monocyte levels that persisted for 6-7 months, mostly attributed to elevated levels of classical monocytes. Myeloid derived suppressor cells were also elevated over this period. While most DC subsets recovered from an initial decrease, we found elevated levels of cDC2/cDC3 at the 6-7 month timepoint. Analysis of functional markers on monocytes and DC revealed sustained reduction in program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression but increased CD86 expression across almost all cell types examined. Finally, C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated positively to the levels of intermediate monocytes and negatively to the recovery of DC subsets.Conclusion:
By exploring the myeloid compartments, we show here that alterations in the immune landscape remain more than 6 months after severe COVID-19, which could be indicative of ongoing healing and/or persistence of viral antigens.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Monocytes
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Front Immunol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Fimmu.2022.1082912
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