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Increased CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in COVID‐19 patients
Author(s) -
Bellesi Silvia,
Metafuni Elisabetta,
Hohaus Stefan,
Maiolo Elena,
Marchionni Federica,
D’Innocenzo Simone,
La Sorda Marilena,
Ferraironi Manuela,
Ramundo Francesco,
Fantoni Massimo,
Murri Rita,
Cingolani Antonella,
Sica Simona,
Gasbarrini Antonio,
Sanguinetti Maurizio,
Chiusolo Patrizia,
De Stefano Valerio
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.17034
Subject(s) - fas receptor , flow cytometry , cd8 , covid-19 , apoptosis , immunology , biology , medicine , antigen , disease , programmed cell death , biochemistry , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Summary A low count of CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes is a hallmark laboratory finding in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Using flow cytometry, we observed significantly higher CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression on both CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells in 42 COVID‐19 patients when compared to controls. Higher CD95 expression in CD4 + cells correlated with lower CD4 + counts. A higher expression of CD95 in CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes correlated with a lower percentage of naive events. Our results might suggest a shift to antigen‐activated T cells, expressing molecules increasing their propensity to apoptosis and exhaustion during COVID‐19 infection.