Increased CD95 (Fas) and PD-1 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in COVID-19 patients

Br J Haematol. 2020 Oct;191(2):207-211. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17034. Epub 2020 Aug 18.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: CD95 (Fas); COVID-19; PD-1; apoptosis; exhaustion.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / blood
  • Aging / immunology
  • Apoptosis
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry*
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / chemistry*
  • Lymphopenia / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / blood*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • fas Receptor / blood*

Substances

  • FAS protein, human
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • fas Receptor