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Immunological imprint of COVID‐19 on human peripheral blood leukocyte populations
Author(s) -
Kratzer Bernhard,
Trapin Doris,
Ettel Paul,
Körmöczi Ulrike,
Rottal Arno,
Tuppy Friedrich,
Feichter Melanie,
Gattinger Pia,
Borochova Kristina,
Dorofeeva Yulia,
Tulaeva Inna,
Weber Milena,
GrabmeierPfistershammer Katharina,
Tauber Peter A.,
Gerdov Marika,
Mühl Bernhard,
Perkmann Thomas,
Fae Ingrid,
Wenda Sabine,
Führer Harald,
Henning Rainer,
Valenta Rudolf,
Pickl Winfried F.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.14647
Subject(s) - immunology , cd8 , immune system , cd38 , medicine , antibody , foxp3 , virology , biology , stem cell , cd34 , genetics
Background SARS‐CoV‐2 has triggered a pandemic that is now claiming many lives. Several studies have investigated cellular immune responses in COVID‐19‐infected patients during disease but little is known regarding a possible protracted impact of COVID‐19 on the adaptive and innate immune system in COVID‐19 convalescent patients. Methods We used multiparametric flow cytometry to analyze whole peripheral blood samples and determined SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibody levels against the S‐protein, its RBD‐subunit, and viral nucleocapsid in a cohort of COVID‐19 convalescent patients who had mild disease ~10 weeks after infection (n = 109) and healthy control subjects (n = 98). Furthermore, we correlated immunological changes with clinical and demographic parameters. Results Even ten weeks after disease COVID‐19 convalescent patients had fewer neutrophils, while their cytotoxic CD8 + T cells were activated, reflected as higher HLA‐DR and CD38 expression. Multiparametric regression analyses showed that in COVID‐19‐infected patients both CD3 + CD4 + and CD3 + CD8 + effector memory cells were higher, while CD25 + Foxp3 + T regulatory cells were lower. In addition, both transitional B cell and plasmablast levels were significantly elevated in COVID‐19‐infected patients. Fever (duration, level) correlated with numbers of central memory CD4 + T cells and anti‐S and anti‐RBD, but not anti‐NC antibody levels. Moreover, a “young immunological age” as determined by numbers of CD3 + CD45RA + CD62L + CD31 + recent thymic emigrants was associated with a loss of sense of taste and/or smell. Conclusion Acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection leaves protracted beneficial (ie, activation of T cells) and potentially harmful (ie, reduction of neutrophils) imprints in the cellular immune system in addition to induction of specific antibody responses.

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