학술논문
Persistent immune abnormalities discriminate post-COVID syndrome from convalescence
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
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; Roider, Julia
Source
Infection: A Journal of Infectious Diseases. :1-11
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0300-8126
1439-0973
1439-0973
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.