Open AccessInnate lymphoid cell composition associates with COVID‐19 disease severity
Author(s) -
García Marina,
Kokkinou Efthymia,
Carrasco García Anna,
Parrot Tiphaine,
Palma Medina Laura M,
Maleki Kimia T,
Christ Wanda,
Varnaitė Renata,
Filipovic Iva,
Ljunggren HansGustaf,
Björkström Niklas K,
Folkesson Elin,
Rooyackers Olav,
Eriksson Lars I,
Sönnerborg Anders,
Aleman Soo,
Strålin Kristoffer,
GredmarkRuss Sara,
Klingström Jonas,
Mjösberg Jenny
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1002/cti2.1224
Subject(s) - innate lymphoid cell , immunology , immune system , cxcr3 , innate immune system , flow cytometry , coronavirus , disease , immunophenotyping , biology , chemokine , covid-19 , chemokine receptor , medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Abstract Objectives The role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), is unknown. Understanding the immune response in COVID‐19 could contribute to unravel the pathogenesis and identification of treatment targets. Here, we describe the phenotypic landscape of circulating ILCs in COVID‐19 patients and identified ILC phenotypes correlated to serum biomarkers, clinical markers and laboratory parameters relevant in COVID‐19. Methods Blood samples collected from moderately ( n = 11) and severely ill ( n = 12) COVID‐19 patients, as well as healthy control donors ( n = 16), were analysed with 18‐parameter flow cytometry. Using supervised and unsupervised approaches, we examined the ILC activation status and homing profile. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained from all COVID‐19 patients, and serum biomarkers were analysed with multiplex immunoassays. Results Innate lymphoid cells were largely depleted from the circulation of COVID‐19 patients compared with healthy controls. Remaining circulating ILCs revealed decreased frequencies of ILC2 in severe COVID‐19, with a concomitant decrease of ILC precursors (ILCp) in all patients, compared with controls. ILC2 and ILCp showed an activated phenotype with increased CD69 expression, whereas expression levels of the chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 were significantly altered in ILC2 and ILCp, and ILC1, respectively. The activated ILC profile of COVID‐19 patients was associated with soluble inflammatory markers, while frequencies of ILC subsets were correlated with laboratory parameters that reflect the disease severity. Conclusion This study provides insights into the potential role of ILCs in immune responses against SARS‐CoV‐2, particularly linked to the severity of COVID‐19.