Persistent immune abnormalities discriminate post-COVID syndrome from convalescence

Sbierski-Kind, Julia; Schlickeiser, Stephan; Feldmann, Svenja; Ober, Veronica; Grüner, Eva; Pleimelding, Claire; Gilberg, Leonard; Brand, Isabel; Weigl, Nikolas; Ahmed, Mohamed I. M.; Ibarra, Gerardo; Ruzicka, Michael ; Benesch, Christopher; Pernpruner, Anna; Valdinoci, Elisabeth; Hoelscher, Michael ; Adorjan, Kristina ; Stubbe, Hans Christian ; Pritsch, Michael; Seybold, Ulrich und Roider, Julia (2024): Persistent immune abnormalities discriminate post-COVID syndrome from convalescence. In: Infection, Bd. 52: S. 1087-1097

Abstract

Background : Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are key organizers of tissue immune responses and regulate tissue development, repair, and pathology. Persistent clinical sequelae beyond 12 weeks following acute COVID-19 disease, named post-COVID syndrome (PCS), are increasingly recognized in convalescent individuals. ILCs have been associated with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms but their role in the development of PCS remains poorly defined.

Methods and results : Here, we used multiparametric immune phenotyping, finding expanded circulating ILC precursors (ILCPs) and concurrent decreased group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in PCS patients compared to well-matched convalescent control groups at > 3 months after infection or healthy controls. Patients with PCS showed elevated expression of chemokines and cytokines associated with trafficking of immune cells (CCL19/MIP-3b, FLT3-ligand), endothelial inflammation and repair (CXCL1, EGF, RANTES, IL-1RA, PDGF-AA).

Conclusion : These results define immunological parameters associated with PCS and might help find biomarkers and disease-relevant therapeutic strategies.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin > Max-von-Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie ; Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II (Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie) ; Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III (Onkologie) ; Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV (Endokrinologie, Nephrologie, weitere Sektionen) ; Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Institut für Infektions- und Tropenmedizin ; Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Klinik und Poliklink für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0300-8126
• Sprache: Englisch