Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Vahid Asghariazar ¹
• Majid Eterafi ²
• Somaieh Matin ³
• Nasrin Fouladi ^{4, 5}
• Rozita Abolhasani ¹
• Monireh Falsafi ¹
• Afshin Fathi ⁶
• Elham Safarzadeh ^{1, 7}

¹ Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

² Students Research Committee, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

³ Department of Internal Medicine, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

⁴ School of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

⁵ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

⁶ Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Ardabil University of Medical Science, Ardabil, Iran.

⁷ Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 (2019) clearly demonstrates an imbalanced immune response. Variations in the function and subtypes of dendritic cells (DCs) may have effects on immune responses in COVID-19 patients and contribute to immunopathology.
Objectives: To assess the phenotype and frequency of Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), Conventional DCs (cDCs), and double-positive DCs in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU and non-ICU compared to the healthy control group.
Methods: The study included 10 healthy individuals and 25 COVID-19 patients. In the second week of their illness, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the patients and labeled with targeted antibodies for HLA-DR, CD123, and CD11c. The samples were then analyzed using flow cytometry. The COVID-19 patients were divided into two ICU and non-ICU groups and were closely monitored throughout the study.
Results: In comparison to healthy controls, COVID-19 patients exhibited a significantly lower pDCs ratio (P=0.04). Patients were categorized into two groups: (A) the ICU group (n=11; 44%) and (B) the non-ICU group (n=14; 56%). The frequency of pDC was significantly lower in ICU patients than in non-ICU patients (P<0.01). Although not statistically significant, ICU patients had a lower frequency of cDCs and double positive DCs compared to non-ICU patients. Additionally, a significant association between the age of COVID-19 patients and cDC levels was observed (p=0.049).
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 can evade attacks from the immune response by reducing the number of DCs and suppressing their function of DCs, ultimately resulting in weakened development of both innate and adaptive immunity.

Keywords

• CD11c
• CD123
• Corona virus
• Dendritic cells
• HLA- DR