Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19
Abstract Background Post-COVID-19 respiratory sequelae often involve lung damage, which is called residual lung abnormalities, and potentially lead to chronic respiratory issues. The adaptive immune response, involving T-cells and B-cells, plays a critical role in pathogen control, inflammation, and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Respiratory Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03102-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832594496560300032 |
|---|---|
| author | Julio Flores-Gonzalez Ivette Buendia-Roldan Fernanda Téllez-Quijada Carlos Peña-Bates Lucero A. Ramón-Luing Armando Castorena-Maldonado Ramcés Falfán-Valencia Gloria Pérez-Rubio Moisés Selman Leslie Chavez-Galan Leslie Chávez-Galán |
| author_facet | Julio Flores-Gonzalez Ivette Buendia-Roldan Fernanda Téllez-Quijada Carlos Peña-Bates Lucero A. Ramón-Luing Armando Castorena-Maldonado Ramcés Falfán-Valencia Gloria Pérez-Rubio Moisés Selman Leslie Chavez-Galan Leslie Chávez-Galán |
| author_sort | Julio Flores-Gonzalez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Post-COVID-19 respiratory sequelae often involve lung damage, which is called residual lung abnormalities, and potentially lead to chronic respiratory issues. The adaptive immune response, involving T-cells and B-cells, plays a critical role in pathogen control, inflammation, and tissue repair. However, the link between immune dysregulation and the development of residual lung abnormalities remains unclear. Methods 109 patients discharged with residual lung abnormalities after a critical COVID-19 were followed for 12 months and divided as full recovery patients (FRG, n = 88) and persistent lung abnormalities (PLAG, n = 21). Cell profiling analysis was done using flow cytometry at 24 h of not antigen-specific in vitro stimulation. Plasma or supernatant levels of IFN-g, IL-4, IL-10, IgM, and IgG were assessed, and 10 patients (5 FRG, 5 PLAG) were randomly selected for detailed immune cell phenotyping and functional analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry. Results Compared to the FRG group, PLAG exhibited an increase of unswitched (p = 0.0159) and decreased double-negative activated B-cells (p = 0.0317), systemic IL-10 levels were lower, displayed reduced frequency of total B-cells, and impaired spontaneous IgM (p = 0.0357) and IgG (p = 0.0079) release in culture. Regarding T-cells, PLAG patients showed a reduction in effector memory CD4 + cells (p = 0.0159) and an increase in CD4 + TEMRA cells (p = 0.0079) following in vitro stimulation. Notably, the PLAG group also exhibited higher frequencies of central memory CD4 + Th2 (GATA3+) T-cells in response to activation than the FRG group (p = 0.0079). Conclusions Patients with residual lung abnormalities 12 months post-critical COVID-19 exhibit impaired B-cell function, increased unswitched B-cells, and higher frequencies of CD4 + TEMRA T-cells following in vitro activation. These immune imbalances may contribute to ongoing lung dysfunction and warrant further investigation as a potential mechanism in residual lung abnormalities. Larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-981aab2ccaa9433ca450b1e32d0452f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1465-993X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Respiratory Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-981aab2ccaa9433ca450b1e32d0452f22025-01-19T12:36:33ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-01-0126111210.1186/s12931-025-03102-2Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19Julio Flores-Gonzalez0Ivette Buendia-Roldan1Fernanda Téllez-Quijada2Carlos Peña-Bates3Lucero A. Ramón-Luing4Armando Castorena-Maldonado5Ramcés Falfán-Valencia6Gloria Pérez-Rubio7Moisés Selman8Leslie Chavez-Galan9Leslie Chávez-Galán10Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio VillegasAbstract Background Post-COVID-19 respiratory sequelae often involve lung damage, which is called residual lung abnormalities, and potentially lead to chronic respiratory issues. The adaptive immune response, involving T-cells and B-cells, plays a critical role in pathogen control, inflammation, and tissue repair. However, the link between immune dysregulation and the development of residual lung abnormalities remains unclear. Methods 109 patients discharged with residual lung abnormalities after a critical COVID-19 were followed for 12 months and divided as full recovery patients (FRG, n = 88) and persistent lung abnormalities (PLAG, n = 21). Cell profiling analysis was done using flow cytometry at 24 h of not antigen-specific in vitro stimulation. Plasma or supernatant levels of IFN-g, IL-4, IL-10, IgM, and IgG were assessed, and 10 patients (5 FRG, 5 PLAG) were randomly selected for detailed immune cell phenotyping and functional analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry. Results Compared to the FRG group, PLAG exhibited an increase of unswitched (p = 0.0159) and decreased double-negative activated B-cells (p = 0.0317), systemic IL-10 levels were lower, displayed reduced frequency of total B-cells, and impaired spontaneous IgM (p = 0.0357) and IgG (p = 0.0079) release in culture. Regarding T-cells, PLAG patients showed a reduction in effector memory CD4 + cells (p = 0.0159) and an increase in CD4 + TEMRA cells (p = 0.0079) following in vitro stimulation. Notably, the PLAG group also exhibited higher frequencies of central memory CD4 + Th2 (GATA3+) T-cells in response to activation than the FRG group (p = 0.0079). Conclusions Patients with residual lung abnormalities 12 months post-critical COVID-19 exhibit impaired B-cell function, increased unswitched B-cells, and higher frequencies of CD4 + TEMRA T-cells following in vitro activation. These immune imbalances may contribute to ongoing lung dysfunction and warrant further investigation as a potential mechanism in residual lung abnormalities. Larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03102-2Post-acute sequelae COVID-19CD4 + T cellsTh1/Th2 profileB cellsAntibodies |
| spellingShingle | Julio Flores-Gonzalez Ivette Buendia-Roldan Fernanda Téllez-Quijada Carlos Peña-Bates Lucero A. Ramón-Luing Armando Castorena-Maldonado Ramcés Falfán-Valencia Gloria Pérez-Rubio Moisés Selman Leslie Chavez-Galan Leslie Chávez-Galán Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 Respiratory Research Post-acute sequelae COVID-19 CD4 + T cells Th1/Th2 profile B cells Antibodies |
| title | Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 |
| title_full | Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 |
| title_short | Altered immune surveillance of B and T cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe COVID-19 |
| title_sort | altered immune surveillance of b and t cells in patients with persistent residual lung abnormalities 12 months after severe covid 19 |
| topic | Post-acute sequelae COVID-19 CD4 + T cells Th1/Th2 profile B cells Antibodies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03102-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliofloresgonzalez alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT ivettebuendiaroldan alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT fernandatellezquijada alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT carlospenabates alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT luceroaramonluing alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT armandocastorenamaldonado alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT ramcesfalfanvalencia alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT gloriaperezrubio alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT moisesselman alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT lesliechavezgalan alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 AT lesliechavezgalan alteredimmunesurveillanceofbandtcellsinpatientswithpersistentresiduallungabnormalities12monthsafterseverecovid19 |