A single-cell atlas of the peripheral immune response to severe COVID-19

Citations Over Time

Abstract

There is an urgent need to better understand the pathophysiology of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we apply single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 7 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and 6 healthy controls. We identify substantial reconfiguration of peripheral immune cell phenotype in COVID-19, including a heterogeneous interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) signature, HLA class II downregulation, and a novel B cell-derived granulocyte population appearing in patients with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Importantly, peripheral monocytes and lymphocytes do not express substantial amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that circulating leukocytes do not significantly contribute to the potential COVID-19 cytokine storm. Collectively, we provide the most thorough cell atlas to date of the peripheral immune response to severe COVID-19.

Related Papers

• → The pathogenesis and treatment of the `Cytokine Storm' in COVID-19(2020)2,827 cited
• → Potential therapeutic approaches for targeted inhibition of inflammatory cytokines following COVID-19 infection-induced cytokine storm(2021)22 cited
• The Management of Cytokine Storm in COVID-19.(2020)
• → Comparative in vitro bioactivity of cyclosporine on the proliferation of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in sarcoidosis patients (SP) and healthy controls (HC)(2004)