Project description:Purpose: Following a severe COVID-19 infection, a proportion of individuals develop prolonged symptoms. We investigated the immunological dysfunction that underlies the persistence of symptoms months after the resolution of acute COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed cytokines, cell phenotypes, SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific and neutralizing antibodies, and whole blood gene expression profiles in convalescent severe COVID-19 patients 1, 3, and 6 months following hospital discharge. Results: We observed persistent abnormalities until month 6 marked by i) high serum levels of monocyte/macrophage and endothelial activation markers, chemotaxis, and hematopoietic cytokines, ii) a high frequency of central memory CD4+ and effector CD8+ T cells; iii) a decrease in anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike and neutralizing antibodies, iv) an upregulation of genes related to platelet, neutrophil activation, erythrocytes, myeloid cell differentiation and RUNX1 signaling. We identified a “core gene signature” associated with a history of thrombotic events, with upregulation of a set of genes involved in neutrophil activation, platelet, hematopoiesis, and blood coagulation. Conclusion: The lack of restoration of gene expression to a normal profile after up to six months of follow-up, even in asymptomatic patients who experienced severe COVID-19, signals the need to carefully extend their clinical follow-up and propose preventive measures.
Project description:As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and aging are both accompanied by cognitive decline, we hypothesized that COVID-19 might lead to molecular signatures similar to aging. We performed whole-transcriptome analysis of the frontal cortex, a critical area for cognitive function, in individuals with COVID-19, age-matched and sex-matched uninfected controls, and uninfected individuals with intensive care unit/ventilator treatment. Our findings indicate that COVID-19 is associated with molecular signatures of brain aging and emphasize the value of neurological follow-up in recovered individuals.
Project description:Several studies have reported diverse and prolonged symptoms after COVID-19; however, how long-term pulmonary dysfunction (L-TPD) post-COVID-19 is manifested, which variables support it, and which are the concomitant consequences remain unknown. In this study patients with L-TPD were identified according to their computer-tomography and diffusing capacity-for-carbon-monoxide evaluations at 4-month post-infection. Regarding the acute phase, L-TPD was favored in elderly patients with comorbidities, supported by pathways such as cardiac dysfunction and chemotaxis of phagocytes. At 4-months post-infection, L-TPD patients exhibited a restrictive lung condition favored by CXCL9, platelets and an inhibited FCgamma-receptor-mediated-phagocytosis due to reduced CD16 expression in their monocytes, suggesting that phagocytosis of virus-antibody immune complexes was compromised in this group. Finally, one-year post infection, patients with L-TPD worsened metabolic syndrome and augmented body mass index in comparison with other patient groups. Overall, our data suggest that COVID-19 survivors required a personalized follow-up and adequate intervention to reduce long-term sequelae and the appearance of further metabolic diseases.
Project description:Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a poorly understood chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease and is associated with many systemic diseases, which may lead to the erosion of oral mucosa and bring physical and psychological disorders to patients. However, the pathogenesis and immune microenvironment of OLP with different clinical subtypes are unclear. therefore, this study established a clinical cohort of OLP with 1-year follow-up and obtained the clinical information and bulk RNA-seq files to explore the immune microenvironment and molecular mechanism of oral lichen planus with different clinical subtypes. Based on the erosion of oral mucosa in the biopsy, the participants of OLP were divided into two groups, non-erosive OLP (NEOLP) and erosive OLP (EOLP). According to whether erosion occurred in oral mucosa more than three times and a remission period of less than 3 months within a one-year follow-up, OLP was divided into two groups, recalcitrant erosive OLP (REOLP) and stable OLP (SOLP).
Project description:In this study, we collected plasma samples from 22 healthy controls (HC group), 43 hospitalized patients (HO group), 196 convalescent patients 6 months after COVID-19 infection (first follow-up, F1 group), and 181 convalescent patients 12 months after COVID-19 infection (second follow-up, F2 group). The participants completed a questionnaire-based survey on their clinical symptoms. Subsequently, 442 plasma samples from all participants were processed for LC-MS/MS-based proteomic detection.
