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Severe T cell hyporeactivity in ventilated COVID-19 patients correlates with prolonged virus persistence and poor outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Kerstin Renner

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Tobias Schwittay

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Sophia Chaabane

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Johanna Gottschling

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Christine Müller

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Charlotte Tiefenböck

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Jan-Niklas Salewski

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Frederike Winter

    (University Hospital Regensburg
    Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology)

  • Simone Buchtler

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Saidou Balam

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Maximilian V. Malfertheiner

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Matthias Lubnow

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Dirk Lunz

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Bernhard Graf

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Florian Hitzenbichler

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Frank Hanses

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Hendrik Poeck

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Marina Kreutz

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Evelyn Orsó

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Ralph Burkhardt

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Tanja Niedermair

    (University of Regensburg
    University and University Hospital)

  • Christoph Brochhausen

    (University of Regensburg
    University and University Hospital)

  • André Gessner

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Bernd Salzberger

    (University Hospital Regensburg)

  • Matthias Mack

    (University Hospital Regensburg
    Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to pneumonia and hyperinflammation. Here we show a sensitive method to measure polyclonal T cell activation by downstream effects on responder cells like basophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils in whole blood. We report a clear T cell hyporeactivity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients that is pronounced in ventilated patients, associated with prolonged virus persistence and reversible with clinical recovery. COVID-19-induced T cell hyporeactivity is T cell extrinsic and caused by plasma components, independent of occasional immunosuppressive medication of the patients. Monocytes respond stronger in males than females and IL-2 partially restores T cell activation. Downstream markers of T cell hyporeactivity are also visible in fresh blood samples of ventilated patients. Based on our data we developed a score to predict fatal outcomes and identify patients that may benefit from strategies to overcome T cell hyporeactivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerstin Renner & Tobias Schwittay & Sophia Chaabane & Johanna Gottschling & Christine Müller & Charlotte Tiefenböck & Jan-Niklas Salewski & Frederike Winter & Simone Buchtler & Saidou Balam & Maximili, 2021. "Severe T cell hyporeactivity in ventilated COVID-19 patients correlates with prolonged virus persistence and poor outcomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23334-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23334-2
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