Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Dynamic Monitoring of Seroconversion using a Multianalyte Immunobead Assay for Covid-19
Published on: February 16, 2022
Monocyte CD169 Expression as a Biomarker in the Early Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019
Anne-Sophie Bedin1, Alain Makinson2,3, Marie-Christine Picot4,5
1Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, Montpellier University, INSERM, EFS, Montpellier, France.
Insights
Monocyte CD169, a marker for interferon-inducible receptors, was highly expressed in COVID-19 patients. This finding suggests monocyte CD169 testing can aid in rapid triage of patients with suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Hematology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Accurate and rapid diagnosis is crucial for patient management during outbreaks.
- Type I interferon-inducible receptors, like CD169, play roles in antiviral responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of monocyte CD169 expression for COVID-19.
- To investigate the association between monocyte CD169 and clinical parameters in suspected COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- Assessed CD169 expression on monocytes (monocyte CD169 [mCD169]) in 53 adult patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Compared mCD169 levels between confirmed COVID-19 cases and those ruled out.
- Correlated mCD169 expression with plasma interferon-alpha levels and platelet counts (thrombocytopenia).
Main Results:
- Strong overexpression of mCD169 was observed in 93.7% of confirmed COVID-19 cases (30/32).
- Only 14.3% of patients without COVID-19 (3/21) showed mCD169 overexpression.
- mCD169 expression correlated with elevated plasma interferon-alpha and thrombocytopenia.
Conclusions:
- Monocyte CD169 is significantly overexpressed in COVID-19 patients.
- mCD169 testing shows potential as a rapid biomarker for triaging suspected COVID-19 cases.
- This marker may assist in early identification and management during infectious disease outbreaks.
Abstract:
We assessed the expression of CD169, a type I interferon-inducible receptor, on monocytes (monocyte CD169 [mCD169]) in 53 adult patients admitted to the hospital during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak for a suspicion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Monocyte CD169 was strongly overexpressed in 30 of 32 (93.7%) confirmed COVID-19 cases, compared with 3 of 21 (14.3%) patients in whom the diagnosis of COVID-19 was finally ruled out. Monocyte CD169 was associated with the plasma interferon-alpha level and thrombocytopenia. Monocyte CD169 testing may be helpful for the rapid triage of suspected COVID-19 patients during an outbreak.
