Frontiers in Immunology (Feb 2023)

Severely ill and high-risk COVID-19 patients exhibit increased peripheral circulation of CD62L+ and perforin+ T cells

  • Kelsey E. Lesteberg,
  • Kelsey E. Lesteberg,
  • Paula Araya,
  • Katherine A. Waugh,
  • Katherine A. Waugh,
  • Lakshmi Chauhan,
  • Joaquin M. Espinosa,
  • Joaquin M. Espinosa,
  • J. David Beckham,
  • J. David Beckham,
  • J. David Beckham,
  • J. David Beckham

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1113932
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, has led to over 400 million reported cases worldwide. COVID-19 disease ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe disease and may be impacted by individual immune differences.MethodsWe used multiparameter flow cytometry to compare CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in severe (ICU admitted) and non-severe (admitted to observational unit) hospitalized COVID-19 patients.ResultsWe found that patients with severe COVID- 19 had greater frequencies of CD4+ T cells expressing CD62L compared to non-severe patients and greater frequencies of perforin+ CD8+ T cells compared to recovered patients. Furthermore, greater frequencies of CD62L+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were seen in severely ill diabetic patients compared to non-severe and non-diabetic patients, and increased CD62L+ CD4+ T cells were also seen in severely ill patients with hypertension.DiscussionThis is the first report to show that CD62L+ T cells and perforin+ T cells are associated with severe COVID-19 illness and are significantly increased in patients with high-risk pre-existing conditions including older age and diabetes. These data provide a potential biological marker for severe COVID-19.

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