Primate Monocytes - CD14, CD16 - Ziegler-Heitbrock

Increased B Cell activity with consumption of activated monocytes in severe COVID-19 patients.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of auto-immune complications triggered by SARS-CoV2 has not been completely elucidated. Here, we performed an analysis of the cellular immune status, cell ratios and monocyte populations of patients with COVID-19 treated on the intensive care unit (ICU) (cohort 1, N = 23) and normal care unit (NCU) (cohort 2, n = 10) compared with control groups: patients treated on ICU for non-infectious reasons (cohort 3, n = 30) and patients treated on NCU for infections other than COVID-19 (cohort 4, n = 21). Patients in cohort 1 presented significant differences in comparison with the other cohorts, including reduced frequencies of lymphocytes, reduced CD8+T-cell count, reduced percentage of activated and intermediate monocytes and an increased B/T8 cell ratio. Over time, patients in cohort 1 who died presented with lower counts of B, T, CD4+T, CD8+T-lymphocytes, NK-cells and activated monocytes. The B/T8 ratio was significantly lower in the group of survivors. In cohort 1 significantly higher levels of IgG1 and IgG3 were found, whereas cohort 3 presented higher levels of IgG3 compared to controls. Among many immune changes, an elevated B/T8 cell ratio and a reduced rate of activated monocytes were mainly observed in patients with severe COVID-19. Both parameters were associated with death in cohort 1. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.