An Inflammatory Profile Correlates With Decreased Frequency of Cytotoxic Cells in Coronavirus Disease 2019

Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Nov 19;71(16):2272-2275. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa577.

Abstract

Increased production of inflammatory cytokines and myeloid-derived suppressor cells occurs in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. These inversely correlated with perforin-expressing natural killer (NK) and CD3+ T cells. We observed a lower number of perforin-expressing NK cells in intensive care unit (ICU) patients compared with non-ICU patients, suggesting an impairment of the immune cytotoxic arm as a pathogenic mechanism.

Keywords: COVID-19; MDSC; NK cells; cytotoxic cells; inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Italy
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perforin / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Perforin