RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The immunological factors predisposing to severe COVID-19 are already present in healthy elderly and men
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.04.30.442229
DO 10.1101/2021.04.30.442229
A1 Gizem Kilic
A1 Ozlem Bulut
A1 Martin Jaeger
A1 Rob ter Horst
A1 Valerie A. C. M. Koeken
A1 Simone Moorlag
A1 Vera P. Mourits
A1 Charlotte de Bree
A1 Jorge Domínguez-Andrés
A1 Leo A. B. Joosten
A1 Mihai G. Netea
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/04/2021.04.30.442229.abstract
AB Background Male sex and old age are risk factors for COVID-19 severity, but the underlying causes are unknown. A possible explanation for this might be the differences in immunological profiles in males and the elderly before the infection. Given the seasonal profile of COVID-19, the seasonal response against SARS-CoV-2 could also be different in these groups.Methods The abundance of circulating proteins and immune populations associated with severe COVID-19 was analyzed in 2 healthy cohorts. PBMCs of female, male, young, and old subjects in different seasons of the year were stimulated with heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2.Result Several T cell subsets, which are known to be depleted in severe COVID-19 patients, were intrinsically less abundant in men and older individuals. Plasma proteins increasing with disease severity, including HGF, IL-8, and MCP-1, were more abundant in the elderly and males. The elderly produced significantly more IL-1RA and had a dysregulated IFNγ response with lower production in the summer compared with young individuals.Conclusions The immune characteristics of severe COVID-19, described by a differential abundance of immune cells and circulating inflammatory proteins, are intrinsically present in healthy men and the elderly. This might explain the susceptibility of men and the elderly to SARS-CoV-2 infection.Summary Immunological profile of severe COVID-19, characterized by altered immune cell populations and inflammatory plasma proteins is intrinsically present in healthy men and the elderly. Different age and sex groups show distinct seasonal responses to SARS-CoV-2.