EBioMedicine (May 2020)
Longitudinal characteristics of lymphocyte responses and cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients
- Jing Liu,
- Sumeng Li,
- Jia Liu,
- Boyun Liang,
- Xiaobei Wang,
- Hua Wang,
- Wei Li,
- Qiaoxia Tong,
- Jianhua Yi,
- Lei Zhao,
- Lijuan Xiong,
- Chunxia Guo,
- Jin Tian,
- Jinzhuo Luo,
- Jinghong Yao,
- Ran Pang,
- Hui Shen,
- Cheng Peng,
- Ting Liu,
- Qian Zhang,
- Jun Wu,
- Ling Xu,
- Sihong Lu,
- Baoju Wang,
- Zhihong Weng,
- Chunrong Han,
- Huabing Zhu,
- Ruxia Zhou,
- Helong Zhou,
- Xiliu Chen,
- Pian Ye,
- Bin Zhu,
- Lu Wang,
- Wenqing Zhou,
- Shengsong He,
- Yongwen He,
- Shenghua Jie,
- Ping Wei,
- Jianao Zhang,
- Yinping Lu,
- Weixian Wang,
- Li Zhang,
- Ling Li,
- Fengqin Zhou,
- Jun Wang,
- Ulf Dittmer,
- Mengji Lu,
- Yu Hu,
- Dongliang Yang,
- Xin Zheng
Affiliations
- Jing Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Sumeng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jia Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Boyun Liang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Xiaobei Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hua Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Wei Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Qiaoxia Tong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jianhua Yi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Lei Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Lijuan Xiong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Chunxia Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jin Tian
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jinzhuo Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jinghong Yao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ran Pang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hui Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Cheng Peng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ting Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jun Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ling Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Sihong Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Baoju Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Zhihong Weng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Chunrong Han
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Huabing Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ruxia Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Helong Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Xiliu Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Pian Ye
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Bin Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Lu Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Wenqing Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Shengsong He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Yongwen He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Shenghua Jie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ping Wei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jianao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Yinping Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Weixian Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Li Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ling Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Fengqin Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Jun Wang
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Mengji Lu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Yu Hu
- Department of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Corresponding author.
- Dongliang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
- Xin Zheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
- Journal volume & issue
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Vol. 55
Abstract
Background: The dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets and cytokines profiles of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their correlation with the disease severity remain unclear. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were longitudinally collected from 40 confirmed COVID-19 patients and examined for lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry and cytokine profiles by specific immunoassays. Findings: Of the 40 COVID-19 patients enrolled, 13 severe cases showed significant and sustained decreases in lymphocyte counts [0·6 (0·6-0·8)] but increases in neutrophil counts [4·7 (3·6-5·8)] than 27 mild cases [1.1 (0·8-1·4); 2·0 (1·5-2·9)]. Further analysis demonstrated significant decreases in the counts of T cells, especially CD8+ T cells, as well as increases in IL-6, IL-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the peripheral blood in the severe cases compared to those in the mild cases. T cell counts and cytokine levels in severe COVID-19 patients who survived the disease gradually recovered at later time points to levels that were comparable to those of the mild cases. Moreover, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (AUC=0·93) and neutrophil-to-CD8+ T cell ratio (N8R) (AUC =0·94) were identified as powerful prognostic factors affecting the prognosis for severe COVID-19. Interpretation: The degree of lymphopenia and a proinflammatory cytokine storm is higher in severe COVID-19 patients than in mild cases, and is associated with the disease severity. N8R and NLR may serve as a useful prognostic factor for early identification of severe COVID-19 cases. Funding: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Science and Technology Major Project, the Health Commission of Hubei Province, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen and Stiftung Universitaetsmedizin, Hospital Essen, Germany.