Increased circulating level of interleukin-6 and CD8+ T cell exhaustion are associated with progression of COVID-19

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is pandemic. It is critical to identify COVID-19 patients who are most likely to develop a severe disease. This study was designed to determine the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19 patients associated with the development of pneumonia and factors associated with disease progression. Methods Seventy consecutive patients with etiologically confirmed COVID-19 admitted to PLA General Hospital in Beijing, China from December 27, 2019 to March 12, 2020 were enrolled in this study and followed-up to March 16, 2020. Differences in clinical and laboratory findings between COVID-19 patients with pneumonia and those without were determined by the χ2 test or the Fisher exact test (categorical variables) and independent group t test or Mann–Whitney U test (continuous variables). The Cox proportional hazard model and Generalized Estimating Equations were applied to evaluate factors that predicted the progression of COVID-19. Results The mean incubation was 8.67 (95% confidence interval, 6.78–10.56) days. Mean duration from the first test severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive to conversion was 11.38 (9.86–12.90) days. Compared to pneumonia-free patients, pneumonia patients were 16.5 years older and had higher frequencies of having hypertension, fever, and cough and higher circulating levels of neutrophil proportion, interleukin-6, low count (< 190/µl) of CD8+ T cells, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Thirteen patients deteriorated during hospitalization. Cox regression analysis indicated that older age and higher serum levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate at admission significantly predicted the progression of COVID-19. During hospitalization, circulating counts of T lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells were lower, whereas neutrophil proportion, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and the circulating levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were higher, in pneumonia patients than in pneumonia-free patients. CD8+ lymphocyte count in pneumonia patients did not recover when discharged. Conclusions Older age and higher levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitionin, interleukin-6, and lactate might predict COVID-19 progression. T lymphocyte, especially CD8+ cell-mediated immunity is critical in recovery of COVID-19. This study may help in predicting disease progression and designing immunotherapy for COVID-19.

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The role of coinfection with influenza viruses in the pathogenesis of severe infection in patients with COVID-19

Medical academic journal ◽

10.17816/maj78155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 159-164

Author(s):

Tamara N. Shvedova ◽

Olga S. Kopteva ◽

Polina A. Kudar ◽

Anna A. Lerner ◽

Yuliya A. Desheva

Keyword(s):

Influenza A ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

S Protein ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Coronavirus Infection

BACKGROUND: Despite the continuing global spread of the coronavirus infection COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of severe infections remain poorly understood. The role of comorbidity with other seasonal viral infections, including influenza, in the pathogenesis of the severe course of COVID-19 remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study used sera left over from ongoing laboratory studies of patients with varying degrees of severity of COVID-19. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution IEM (protocol 3/20 from 06/05/2020). We studied 28 paired samples obtained upon admission of patients to the hospital and after 57 days of hospital stay. Paired sera of patients with COVID-19 were tested for antibodies to influenza A and B viruses. The presence of IgG antibodies specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was studied using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum concentration of C-reactive protein and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on the day of hospitalization were also assessed. RESULTS: At least a 4-fold increase in serum IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 S protein was found both in patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and without PCR confirmation. It was shown that out of 18 patients with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 infection, six of them showed at least a 4-fold increase in antibodies to influenza A/H1N1, in one to influenza A/H3N2 and in two cases to the influenza B. Laboratory data in these two groups were characterized by significant increases in serum C-reactive protein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio concentrations compared with the moderate COVID-19 group. CONCLUSIONS: Serological diagnostics can additionally detect cases of coronavirus infection when the virus was not detected by PCR. In moderate and severe cases of COVID-19, coinfections with influenza A and B viruses have been identified. The results obtained confirm the need for anti-influenza immunization during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Influenza virus screening can significantly improve patient management because recommended antiviral drugs (neuraminidase inhibitors) are available.

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Comparison of the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients With Amputation for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds ◽

10.1177/1534734617696729 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 23-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hasan Metineren ◽

Turan Cihan Dülgeroğlu

Keyword(s):

Diabetic Foot ◽

Inflammatory Marker ◽

Foot Ulcer ◽

Diabetic Foot Ulcer ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Before And After

This study compared the effectiveness of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) versus C-reactive protein (CRP) for evaluating the prognosis and degree of inflammation in patients with amputation for a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). This study enrolled 56 patients with amputations for DFU with gangrene and compared the CRP levels and NLR measured before and after surgery. Overall, 24 patients (42%) died within 2 weeks postoperatively. Mortality increased with a preoperative/postoperative CRP difference ≤1.5 ( P < .001) and age 73 years or older ( P < .001). The postoperative NLR was lower than the preoperative value but was not significant as a prognostic or inflammatory marker ( P = .945). An increasing serum CRP level is a significant predictor of mortality. CRP and old age are reliable prognostic factors in patients with DFU.

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