SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lymphopenia, particularly when restricted to the T-cell compartment, has been described as one of the major clinical hallmarks in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and proposed as an indicator of disease severity. Although several mechanisms fostering COVID-19-related lymphopenia have been described, including cell apoptosis and tissue homing, the underlying causes of the decline in T-cell count and function are still not completely understood.

Objective

Given that viral infections can directly target thymic microenvironment and impair the process of T-cell generation, we sought to investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on thymic function.

Methods

We performed molecular quantification of T-cell

SUBMITTER: Rosichini M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9907790 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature