High SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load and Low CCL5 Expression Levels in the Upper Respiratory Tract Are Associated With COVID-19 Severity. (16th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pérez-García, Felipe; Martin-Vicente, María; Rojas-García, Rosa Lía; Castilla-García, Lucía; Muñoz-Gomez, María José; Hervás Fernández, Irene; González Ventosa, Victoria; Vidal-Alcántara, Erick Joan; Cuadros-González, Juan; Bermejo-Martin, Jesús F; Resino, Salvador; Martínez, Isidoro
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 225:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 977
• Page End: 982
• Publication Date: 2021-12-16
• Subjects: CCL5 -- COVID-19 -- death -- gene expression -- ICU -- innate immunity -- nasopharynx -- SARS-CoV-2 -- viral load; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab604
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Mucosal immune response in the upper respiratory tract is crucial for initial control of viral replication, clearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 RNA load and expression of selected immune genes in the upper respiratory tract (nasopharynx) of 255 SARS-CoV-2–infected patients and evaluated their association with severe COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 replication in nasopharyngeal mucosa induces expression of several innate immune genes. High SARS-CoV-2 viral load and low CCL5 expression levels were associated with intensive care unit admission or death, although CCL5 was the best predictor of COVID-19 severity. Graphical Abstract: