Decreased T cell populations contribute to the increased severity of COVID-19

Clin Chim Acta. 2020 Sep:508:110-114. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.019. Epub 2020 May 13.

Abstract

Background: We observe changes of the main lymphocyte subsets (CD16+CD56、CD19、CD3、CD4、and CD8) in COVID-19-infected patients and explore whether the changes are associated with disease severity.

Methods: One-hundred and fifty-four cases of COVID-19-infected patients were selected and divided into 3 groups (moderate group, severe group and critical group). The flow cytometry assay was performed to examine the numbers of lymphocyte subsets.

Results: CD3+, CD4+ and CD8 + T lymphocyte subsets were decreased in COVID-19-infected patients. Compared with the moderate group and the sever group, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the critical group decreased greatly (P < 0.001, P = 0.005 or P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Reduced CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocyte counts may reflect the severity of the COVID-19. Monitoring T cell changes has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of severe patients who may become critically ill.

Keywords: CD3(+) T cells; CD4(+) T cells; CD8(+) T cells; COVID-19; Lymphocyte subsets.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • CD8 Antigens / genetics
  • CD8 Antigens / immunology
  • COVID-19
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / immunology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases / immunology
  • Lung Diseases / mortality
  • Lung Diseases / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Patient Selection
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology
  • Prognosis
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / virology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CD3 Complex
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens