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Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: April 21, 2015
Contribution of CD4+ T cell-mediated inflammation to diarrhea in patients with COVID-19
Xiaobing Wang1, Jia Wei1, Ruiping Zhu1
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; The Hubei Clinical Center & Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, China.
Objectives:
This study aimed to explore the role of CD4+ T cells in the mechanisms of COVID-19 related diarrhea.
Methods:
We analyzed lymphocyte subsets in patients with COVID-19 and the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the transmembrane protease serine 2, and CD4+ T cell-related indicators in the colon were compared between patients with and without diarrhea. Correlation analyses were performed for ACE2 and other indicators to identify the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and CD4+ mediated inflammation. The expression and distribution of CD4+ T cell-associated chemokines and their receptors were detected to determine the possibility of migration of CD4+ T cells to inflammation sites.
Results:
The CD4+ T cell counts and percentages and CD4/CD8 ratio showed the most significant differences between the 2 groups. The diarrhea group expressed higher levels of ACE2, T-box expressed in T cells (Tbet), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) at both the mRNA and protein levels, with no difference from the nondiarrhea group for the percentage of ACE2+TNFα+ cells, indicating an indirect association between ACE2 and TNFα. The mRNA expression of CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 and the number of CD4+CXCR3+T cells were increased in the diarrhea group.
Conclusions:
CD4+ T cell-mediated inflammation may contribute to COVID-19 related diarrhea. CXCR3+ mediated migration of CD4+ T cells into the gut may perpetuate inflammation.
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