Abnormality in the NK-cell population is prolonged in severe COVID-19 patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our understanding of adaptive immune responses in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly evolving, but information on the innate immune responses by natural killer (NK) cells is still insufficient.

Objective

We aimed to examine the phenotypic and functional status of NK cells and their changes during the course of mild and severe COVID-19.

Methods

We performed RNA sequencing and flow cytometric analysis of NK cells from patients with mild and severe COVID-19 at multiple time points in the course of the disease using cryopreserved PBMCs.

Results

In RNA-sequencing analysis, the NK cells exhibited distinctive features compared with healthy donors, with significant enrichment of proinflammatory cytokine-mediated signaling pathways.

SUBMITTER: Leem G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8324384 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature