Malte Mohme, Christoph Schultheiß, Andras Piffko, Antonia Fitzek, Lisa Paschold, Benjamin Thiele, Klaus Püschel, Markus Glatzel, Manfred Westphal, Katrin Lamszus, Jakob Matschke, Mascha Binder
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly presents with respiratory illness, neurologic symptoms and sequelae are increasingly recognised in the long-term treatment of COVID-19 patients. The pathophysiology and the neuropathogenesis behind neurologic complications of COVID-19 remain poorly understood, but mounting evidence points to endothelial dysfunction either directly caused by viral infection or indirectly by inflammatory cytokines, followed by a local immune response that may include virus-specific T cells. However, the type and role of central nervous system-infiltrating T cells in COVID-19 are complex and not fully understood.
Methods
We analysed distinct anatomical brain regions of patients who had deceased as a result of COVID-19-associated pneumonia or complications thereof and performed T cell receptor Vβ repertoire sequencing. Clonotypes were analysed for SARS-CoV-2 association using public TCR repertoire data.
Results
Our descriptive study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2-associated T cells are found in almost all brain areas of patients with fatal COVID-19 courses. The olfactory bulb, medulla and cerebellum were brain regions showing the most SARS-CoV-2 specific sequence patterns. Neuropathological workup demonstrated primary CD8+ T-cell infiltration with a perivascular infiltration pattern.
Conclusion
Future research is needed to better define the relationship between T-cell infiltration and neurological symptoms and its long-term impact on patients' cognitive and mental health.
期刊介绍:
Clinical & Translational Immunology is an open access, fully peer-reviewed journal devoted to publishing cutting-edge advances in biomedical research for scientists and physicians. The Journal covers fields including cancer biology, cardiovascular research, gene therapy, immunology, vaccine development and disease pathogenesis and therapy at the earliest phases of investigation.