Low baseline pulmonary levels of cytotoxic lymphocytes as a predisposing risk factor for severe COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and currently has detrimental human health, community and economic impacts around the world. It is unclear why some SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals remain asymptomatic, while others develop severe symptoms. Baseline pulmonary levels of anti-viral leukocytes, already residing in the lung prior to infection, may orchestrate an effective early immune response and prevent severe symptoms. Using "in silico flow cytometry", we deconvoluted the levels of all seven types of anti-viral leukocytes in 1,927 human lung tissues. Baseline levels of CD8+ T cells, resting NK cells and activated NK cells, as well as cytokines that recruit these, are significantly lower in lung tissues with high expression of the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2. We obse

SUBMITTER: Duijf PHG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7263520 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature