Prospective and Longitudinal Analysis of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in SARS-CoV-2 Positive and Negative Pneumonia: Potential Role of Decreased Naïve CD8+ in COVID-19 Patients
Bekbossynova M. Akhmaltdinova L. Dossybayeva K. Tauekelova A. Smagulova Z. Tsechoeva T. Turebayeva G. Sailybayeva A. Kalila Z. Mirashirova T. Muratov T. Poddighe D.
January 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Viruses
2025#17Issue 1
Background: During the acute phase of COVID-19, a number of immunological abnormalities have been reported, but few studies longitudinally analyzed the specific subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Methods: In this observational, prospective, and longitudinal study, adult patients developing acute pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic have been followed up for 12 months. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were assessed (with a specific focus on the memory markers) at 6 time points after the disease onset until 12 months. Results: A total of 76 patients with acute pneumonia (characterized by a prevalently interstitial pattern of lung inflammation) at the hospital admission (who completed the 12-month follow-up period) were recruited in this study. They were divided into two groups, namely positive (n = 31) and negative (n = 45) patients for the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. In the acute phase, the general lymphocyte immunophenotyping profile was comparable for most parameters between these groups, except for B cells. When B and T cells were analyzed according to the expression of memory markers, a significant decrease in naïve CD8+ T cells was observed in the SARS-CoV-2-positive pneumonia group during the acute phase. Notably, this aspect was maintained during the follow-up period for at least 9 months. Conclusions: COVID-19 pneumonia seems to be associated with a lower number of naïve CD8+ T cells compared to pneumonia patients negative for this virus. This alteration can persist in the convalescent phase.
COVID-19 , lymphocyte immunophenotype , naïve CD8+ T cells , pneumonia , SARS-CoV-2
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National Research Cardiac Surgery Center, 010000, Astana, Kazakhstan
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology, Astana Medical University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Public Health of Astana, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
University Medical Center (UMC), Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
College of Health Sciences, Gia Lam District, VinUniversity, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
National Research Cardiac Surgery Center
School of Medicine
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology
Department of Public Health of Astana
University Medical Center (UMC)
College of Health Sciences
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