Immune modulation as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

Erroneous immune responses in COVID-19 could have detrimental effects, which makes investigation of immune network underlying COVID-19 pathogenesis a requisite. This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 related alterations within the frame of innate and adaptive immunity. Thirty-four patients clinically diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 disease were enrolled in this study. Decreased ILC1 and increased ILC2 subsets were detected in mild and moderate patients compared to healthy controls. NK cell subsets and cytotoxic capacity of NK cells were decreased in severe patients. Moreover, CD3+ T cells were reduced in severe patients and a negative correlation was found between CD3+ T cells and D-dimer levels. Likewise, moderate and severe patients showed diminished CD3+CD8+ T cells. Unlike T and NK cells, plasmablast and plasma cells were elevated in patients and IgG and IgA levels were particularly increased in severe patients. Severe patients also showed elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, reduced intracellular IFN-γ and increased intracellular IL-10 levels. Our findings emphasize that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly alters immune responses and innate and acquired immunity are differentially modulated in line with the clinical severity of the disease. Elevation of IL-10 levels in NK cells and reduction of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in severe patients might be considered as a protective response against the harmful effect of cytokine storm seen in COVID-19.

Clinical characteristics and host immunity responses of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.2 with deletion of ORF7a, ORF7b and ORF8

“…Contrary to a previous study that demonstrated the deletion of ORF8 in AS resulted in higher concentrations of IFN-γ and lower concentrations of chemokines IP-10 (CXCL10), MCP-1 (CCL2), and MIP-1β (CCL4) [ 11 ], our research discovered that plasma IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-8 levels were higher in ∆871 BA.2 infected adult patients compared to BA.2 infected adult patients. Multiple studies have shown that IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-8 levels positively correlate with clinical severity in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients [ 25 ]. Therefore, we hypothesize that the observed difference may be related to the higher rate of asymptomatic infection in WT BA.2 breakthrough infected patients compared to ∆871 BA.2 breakthrough infected patients (Table 2 ).…”

The modulatory action of C-Vx substance on the immune system in COVID-19

“…Thus, the C-Vx application might be more successful in the mild and moderate stages of the disease. In a recent study of our group including mild, moderate, and severe patients, increased anti-inflammatory but decreased inflammatory responses were correlated with disease severity [ 36 ]. Supporting these results, the correlation analysis in this study demonstrated more positive or negative correlations in the Th2 direction without C-Vx, which increase from mild to severe phase.…”

The effect of fructose–induced metabolic syndrome on the histological structure and enteroendocrine cells in duodenum of rats

“…Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a disease characterized by insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia and an increase in body mass index [1]. An essential factor in development of this disease is the rise in the consumption of high-calorie, low-fiber fast food as well as the decline in physical activity [2].…”

“…Besides, excessive fructose consumption has become an important factor in development of metabolic syndrome, as it can cause an increase in blood pressure and triglycerides as well as insulin resistance [5]. In addition, it has been reported that an experimental metabolic syndrome model can be created in rodents with high fructose intake [1]. The metabolic syndrome induced by feeding with a high fructose or fatty diet causes various degrees of damage such as irregularity in microvilli [5], epithelial swelling, epithelial degeneration, villus collapse and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration in small intestine [6].…”