Ongoing observational clinical research has prioritized understanding the human immune response to SARS-CoV-2 during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Several recent studies suggest that immune dysregulation with early and prolonged adaptive immune system activation can result in cellular exhaustion. In this issue of the JCI, Files et al. compared cellular immune phenotypes during the first two months of COVID-19 in hospitalized and less severe, non-hospitalized patients. The authors utilized flow cytometry to analyze circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both patient cohorts maintained B and T cell phenotypes consistent with activation and cellular exhaustion throughout the first two months of infection. Additionally, follow-up samples from the non-hospitalized patient cohort showed that activation markers and cellular exhaustion increased over time. These findings illustrate the persistent nature of the adaptive immune system changes that have been noted in COVID-19 and suggest longer term effects that may shape the maintenance of immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Philip A. Mudd, Kenneth E. Remy
Title and authors | Publication | Year |
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The role of immune activation and antigen persistence in acute and long COVID.
Opsteen S, Files JK, Fram T, Erdmann N |
Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research | 2023 |
Gut Microbiota and Mitochondria: Health and Pathophysiological Aspects of Long COVID.
Ailioaie LM, Ailioaie C, Litscher G |
International journal of molecular sciences | 2023 |
Concurrent glomerular PCDH7 deposits in PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy.
Fu N, Yuan S, Yang G, Li H, Wang T |
CEN Case Reports | 2023 |