Down to a T: The Functional Importance of Lymphopenia in Severe COVID-19

Review Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Systematic review with meta-analysis: COVID-19 outcomes in patients receiving anti-TNF treatments

Georgios Kokkotis et al.

Summary: The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 84 studies, with 35 included in the meta-analysis. Results showed that COVID-19 patients receiving anti-TNF treatment had a lower probability of hospitalization and severe disease compared to non-anti-TNF patients. No difference in hospitalization risk was found for patients without COVID-19 receiving anti-TNF treatment compared to non-anti-TNF treatment.

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Biology

ACE2 is the critical in vivo receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in a novel COVID-19 mouse model with TNF- and IFNγ-driven immunopathology

Riem Gawish et al.

Summary: Despite progress in understanding COVID-19, limited mechanistic insight into immunological factors and disease severity remains. Scientists generated a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain, maVie16, and found that cytokine-driven immunopathology and ACE2 dependence determine disease severity. This study provides a new tool for discovering therapies.

ELIFE (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Lymphopenia as a Predictor for Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Single Center Retrospective Study of 4485 Cases

Jianli Niu et al.

Summary: Lymphopenia on admission is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients with lymphopenia had higher rates of ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and in-hospital mortality compared to those without lymphopenia. Lower lymphocyte counts in patients with lymphopenia were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Lymphopenia also demonstrated predictive value for adverse outcomes.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Critical Care Medicine

CD4+ T-Cell Dysfunction in Severe COVID-19 Disease Is Tumor Necrosis Factor-α/Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1-Dependent

Iulia Popescu et al.

Summary: This study found lymphopenia, especially CD4(+) lymphopenia, in severe COVID-19 patients, which is associated with TNF-alpha/TNF receptor 1-dependent immune mechanisms. In severe cases, CD4(+) T-cell response to Spike-1 (S1) is impaired, leading to increased susceptibility to activation-induced cell death. TNF-alpha blockade may be beneficial in severe COVID-19.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Oncology

Lymphopenia as a Biological Predictor of Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Jongmin Lee et al.

Summary: This study from a Korean nationwide cohort suggests that lymphopenia and its severity levels can serve as reliable predictive factors for COVID-19 clinical outcomes, including mortality, need for intensive care, and oxygen requirements. Lymphopenia at the initial presentation of COVID-19 is associated with poor prognosis, and the intensity of lymphopenia is independently associated with higher COVID-19 mortality.

CANCERS (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Immunology

Inflammatory profiles across the spectrum of disease reveal a distinct role for GM-CSF in severe COVID-19

Ryan S. Thwaites et al.

Summary: The study found that levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines gradually increased with the severity of COVID-19, with IL-6 and GM-CSF playing central roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. Comparisons with samples from fatal influenza patients revealed that GM-CSF was prominent only in COVID-19, further identifying key factors that characterize and distinguish severe and fatal COVID-19.

SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Allergy