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Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry
Published on: June 26, 2018
High-dimensional single-cell analysis reveals the immune characteristics of COVID-19
Wen Shi1,2,3, Xiuxing Liu1, Qiqi Cao4,5,6
1State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes COVID-19, leading to T-cell depletion and altered monocyte populations. This study reveals key peripheral immune cell changes during acute and convalescent COVID-19 phases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a global pandemic.
- Cytokine storms, driven by pathogenic T cells and inflammatory monocytes, are linked to COVID-19 severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore peripheral cellular profiles in COVID-19 patients during acute and convalescent phases.
- To identify immune cell subsets characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 infection using single-cell mass cytometry.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) was employed to analyze peripheral blood samples.
- Algorithm-guided data analysis was used to identify immune cell subsets and their alterations.
Main Results:
- Identified CD4+ T-cell depletion, T-cell differentiation, and plasma cell expansion in COVID-19 patients.
- Observed reduced antigen presentation capacity in innate immune cells.
- Revealed dysregulation of monocyte populations, including expansion of specific subsets.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a high-dimensional, single-cell profile of the peripheral immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
- Characterized distinct immune cell subset alterations in COVID-19 patients, offering insights into disease pathogenesis.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), driven by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. Pathogenic T cells and inflammatory monocytes are regarded as the central drivers of the cytokine storm associated with the severity of COVID-19. In this study, we explored the characteristic peripheral cellular profiles of patients with COVID-19 in both acute and convalescent phases by single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF). Using a combination of algorithm-guided data analyses, we identified peripheral immune cell subsets in COVID-19 and revealed CD4+ T-cell depletion, T-cell differentiation, plasma cell expansion, and the reduced antigen presentation capacity of innate immunity. Notably, COVID-19 induces a dysregulation in the balance of monocyte populations by the expansion of the monocyte subsets. Collectively, our results represent a high-dimensional, single-cell profile of the peripheral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
