Monocyte CD169 expression in COVID-19 patients upon intensive care unit admission

During the second surge of COVID-19 in France (fall 2020), we assessed the expression of monocyte CD169 (i.e., Siglec-1, one of the numerous IFN-stimulated genes) upon admission to intensive care units of 45 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV2 pulmonary infection. Overall, CD169 expression was strongly induced on circulating monocytes of COVID-19 patients compared with healthy donors and patients with bacterial sepsis. Beyond its contribution at the emergency department, CD169 testing may be also helpful for patients' triage at the ICU to rapidly reinforce suspicion of COVID-19 etiology in patients with acute respiratory failure awaiting for PCR results for definitive diagnosis.

Automated summary

The expression of CD169 was substantially increased on monocytes of COVID-19 patients compared to healthy individuals and those with bacterial sepsis. CD169 testing in the ICU may aid in rapidly identifying COVID-19 etiology in patients with acute respiratory failure.