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Interferon-responsive neutrophils and macrophages extricate SARS-CoV-2 Omicron critical patients from the nasty fate of sepsis
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  • Mu Wang,
  • Dingji Zhang,
  • Ting Lei,
  • Ye Zhou,
  • Hao Qin,
  • Yanfeng Wu,
  • Shuxun Liu,
  • Liyuan Zhang,
  • Kaiwei Jia,
  • Yue Dong,
  • Suyuan Wang,
  • Yunhui Li,
  • Yiwen Fan,
  • Liangchen Gui,
  • Yuchao Dong,
  • Wei Zhang,
  • Zhixuan Li,
  • Jin Hou
Mu Wang
Naval Medical University
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Dingji Zhang
Naval Medical University
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Ting Lei
Naval Medical University
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Ye Zhou
Naval Medical University
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Hao Qin
Naval Medical University
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Yanfeng Wu
Naval Medical University
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Shuxun Liu
Naval Medical University
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Liyuan Zhang
Naval Medical University
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Kaiwei Jia
Naval Medical University
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Yue Dong
Naval Medical University
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Suyuan Wang
Naval Medical University
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Yunhui Li
Naval Medical University
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Yiwen Fan
Naval Medical University
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Liangchen Gui
Naval Medical University
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Yuchao Dong
Naval Medical University
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Wei Zhang
Naval Medical University
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Zhixuan Li
Naval Medical University
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Jin Hou
Naval Medical University

Corresponding Author:houjin@immunol.org

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Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is characterized by its high transmissibility, which has caused a worldwide epidemiological event. Yet, it turns ominous once the disease progression degenerates into severe pneumonia and sepsis, presenting a horrendous lethality. To elucidate the alveolar immune or inflammatory landscapes of Omicron critical-ill patients, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the patients with critical pneumonia caused by Omicron infection, and analyzed the correlation between the clinical severity scores and different immune cell subpopulations. In the BALF of Omicron critical patients, the alveolar violent myeloid inflammatory environment was determined. ISG15 + neutrophils and CXCL10 + macrophages, both expressed the interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), were negatively correlated with Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), while septic CST7 + neutrophils and inflammatory VCAN + macrophages were positively correlated with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). The percentages of ISG15 + neutrophils were associated with more protective alveolar epithelial cells, and may reshape CD4 + T cells to the exhaustive phenotype, thus preventing immune injuries. The CXCL10 + macrophages may promote plasmablast/plasma cell survival and activation as well as the production of specific antibodies. As compared to the previous BALF scRNA-seq data from SARS-CoV-2 wild-type/Alpha critical patients, the subsets of neutrophils and macrophages with pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory features presented obvious distinctions, suggesting an immune disparity in Omicron variants. Overall, this study provides a BALF single-cell atlas of Omicron critical patients, and suggests that alveolar interferon-responsive neutrophils and macrophages may extricate SARS-CoV-2 Omicron critical patients from the nasty fate of sepsis.
23 Apr 2024Submitted to Journal of Medical Virology
23 Apr 2024Submission Checks Completed
23 Apr 2024Assigned to Editor
23 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Apr 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Jul 20241st Revision Received
26 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
26 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
26 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept