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Lymphocyte Phenotyping and HLA-DR Expression over the Course of COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Different Disease
Insights
COVID-19 patients show decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and impaired HLA-DR expression, indicating compromised cellular immunity. These changes correlate with disease severity and progression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Hematology
Background:
- The diagnostic and prognostic value of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 remains uncertain.
- Investigating lymphocyte subset dynamics and HLA-DR expression in COVID-19 is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze alterations in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR expression in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To compare these changes against healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood samples from 36 COVID-19 patients and 36 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR expression.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 patients exhibited decreased total lymphocytes, CD3 T, CD4 T, and CD8 T cells, alongside increased CD56 cells.
- Downregulation of HLA-DR expression was observed on lymphocytes.
- Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (neutrophil/lymphocyte, neutrophil/CD3, neutrophil/CD4, neutrophil/CD8) were noted in patients.
Conclusions:
- Significant reductions in CD8+ T, CD4+ T cell counts, and HLA-DR expression were detected in COVID-19 patients.
- These findings suggest substantial impairment of cellular immunity in patients with severe or progressive disease.
Background:
The role of lymphocyte subsets in the diagnosis and follow up of COVID-19 is still unclear. So, we aim to study the changes in lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR expression in the peripheral blood of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Methods:
Lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR expression were detected in the peripheral blood of 36 hospitalized patients of COVID-19; their data were compared to that of 36 healthy controls of comparable age and gender.
Results:
Total lymphocytes, the percentage of CD3 T, CD4 T and CD8 T cells significantly decreased, while that of CD 56 cells significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The expression of HLA-DR is down regulated in these cells. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil/CD3 ratio, neutrophil/CD4 ratio, and neutrophil/CD8 ratio are significantly increased in patients compared with controls. The absolute count of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19 cells, significantly decreased in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.
Conclusions:
A marked reduction in CD8+T and CD4+T count together with HLA-DR cell expression with obvious impairment in cellular immunity has been detected in patients with more severe impairment and progressive course for the disease.
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