Differential Expression of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in the Peripheral
Blood of Patients with COVID-19: Implications for Disease Severity and
Prognosis
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the expression patterns and clinical
significance of specific lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of
patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Between December
2022 and February 2023, a cohort of 199 patients from the First
Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were
analyzed. The participants represented various stages of coronavirus
infection severity: mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Additionally,
40 healthy individuals constituted the control group. The FC 500MPL flow
cytometer and associated reagents for flow cytometry. Results:
Compared with the healthy control group, activated B lymphocytes
witnessed a pronounced increase (p < 0.05). A significant
decrease was observed in the levels of Breg, Tc/s, late activated T,
late activated Th, and late activated Tc/s lymphocytes (p <
0.05). Th, initial Th, initial Tc/s, total Treg, natural Treg, induced
Treg, early activated T, and early activated Th lymphocyte levels showed
no significant difference (p > 0.05). As the disease
progressed, there was an uptick in mid-term activated T lymphocytes (p
< 0.05), while Breg, T, Tc/s, senescent Tc/s, and total
senescent T levels dwindled (p < 0.05). Noteworthy patterns
emerged across different groups for B1, T-lymphocytes, Tc/s, B2, CD8+
Treg cells, and other subsets, highlighting variance in immune responses
relative to disease severity. When juxtaposed, no significant difference
was found in the expression levels of lymphocyte subsets between
patients who died and those deemed critically ill (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Subsets of Treg and B-cells could act as yardsticks
for the trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 infection and might have potential in
forecasting patient trajectories. A comprehensive evaluation of
lymphocyte subsets, especially in real-time, holds the key to discerning
the clinical severity in those with COVID-19. This becomes instrumental
in monitoring treatment outcomes, tracking disease evolution, and
formulating prognostications. Moreover, the results provide a deeper
understanding of the cellular immune defense mechanisms against the
novel coronavirus infection.