Data-Driven Analysis of COVID-19 Reveals Persistent Immune Abnormalities in Convalescent Severe Individuals
Jackwee Lima, Kia Joo Puana, Liang Wei Wanga, Karen Wei Weng Tenga, Chiew Yee Loha, Kim Peng Tana, Guillaume Carissimoa b c, Yi‐Hao Chana b c, Chek Meng Poha b c, Cheryl Yi‐Pin Leea b c, Siew‐Wai Fonga b c d, Nicholas Kim‐Wah Yeo
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Abstract
Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger uncontrolled innate and adaptive immune responses, which are commonly associated with lymphopenia and increased neutrophil counts. However, whether the immune abnormalities observed in mild to severely infected patients persist into convalescence remains unclear. Herein, comparisons were drawn between the immune responses of COVID-19 infected and convalescent adults. Strikingly, survivors of severe COVID-19 had decreased proportions of NKT and Vδ2 T cells, and increased proportions of low-density neutrophils, IgA+/CD86+/CD123+ non-classical monocytes and hyperactivated HLADR+CD38+ CD8+ T cells, and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor A, long after virus clearance. Our study suggests potential immune correlates of "long COVID-19", and defines key cells and cytokines that delineate true and quasi-convalescent states.
TL;DRComparisons were drawn between the immune responses of COVID-19 infected and convalescent adults, and key cells and cytokines that delineate true and quasi-convalescent states of “long CO VID-19” are defined. (Semantic Scholar)

