Proinflammatory monocytes play a preponderant role in the development of a cytokine storm causing fatal consequences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, highlighting the importance of analyzing in more detail monocyte distribution in these patients. In this study, we identified an atypical monocyte subpopulation expressing CD56 molecules that showed a low level of HLA-DR and high level of l-selectin. They released higher amounts of TNF-α and IL-6 and expressed genes associated with an excessive inflammatory process. Remarkably, the frequency of CD56+ monocytes inversely correlated with that of CD16+ monocytes and a high CD56+/CD16+monocyte ratio was associated with both disease severity and mortality, as well as with serum concentration of type I IFN, a factor able to induce the appearance of CD56+ monocytes. In conclusion, severe COVID-19 is characterized by the abundance of hyperinflammatory CD56+ monocytes, which could represent a novel marker with prognostic significance and, possibly, a therapeutic target for controlling the inflammatory process occurring during COVID-19.
Cutting Edge: Hyperinflammatory Monocytes Expressing CD56 Abound in Severe COVID-19 Patients / Campana, Stefania; De Pasquale, Claudia; Sidoti Migliore, Giacomo; Pezzino, Gaetana; Cavaliere, Riccardo; Venanzi Rullo, Emmanuele; Nunnari, Giuseppe; Caramori, Gaetano; David, Antonio; Bonaccorsi, Irene; Pollicino, Teresa; Carrega, Paolo; Ferlazzo, Guido. - In: THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 1550-6606. - 209:4(2022), pp. 655-659. [10.4049/jimmunol.2200021]
Cutting Edge: Hyperinflammatory Monocytes Expressing CD56 Abound in Severe COVID-19 Patients
Caramori, Gaetano;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Proinflammatory monocytes play a preponderant role in the development of a cytokine storm causing fatal consequences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, highlighting the importance of analyzing in more detail monocyte distribution in these patients. In this study, we identified an atypical monocyte subpopulation expressing CD56 molecules that showed a low level of HLA-DR and high level of l-selectin. They released higher amounts of TNF-α and IL-6 and expressed genes associated with an excessive inflammatory process. Remarkably, the frequency of CD56+ monocytes inversely correlated with that of CD16+ monocytes and a high CD56+/CD16+monocyte ratio was associated with both disease severity and mortality, as well as with serum concentration of type I IFN, a factor able to induce the appearance of CD56+ monocytes. In conclusion, severe COVID-19 is characterized by the abundance of hyperinflammatory CD56+ monocytes, which could represent a novel marker with prognostic significance and, possibly, a therapeutic target for controlling the inflammatory process occurring during COVID-19.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.