Persistent T‐cell exhaustion in relation to prolonged pulmonary pathology and death after severe COVID‐19: Results from two Norwegian cohort studies. (18th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trøseid, Marius; Dahl, Tuva B.; Holter, Jan C.; Kildal, Anders B.; Murphy, Sarah L.; Yang, Kuan; Quiles‐Jiménez, Ana; Heggelund, Lars; Müller, Karl Erik; Tveita, Anders; Michelsen, Annika E.; Bøe, Simen; Holten, Aleksander R.; Hoel, Hedda; Mathiessen, Alexander; Aaløkken, Trond M.; Fevang, Børre; Granerud, Beathe K.; Tonby, Kristian; Henriksen, Katerina N.; Lerum, Tøri V.; Müller, Fredrik; Skjønsberg, Ole H.; Barratt‐Due, Andreas; Dyrhol‐Riise, Anne M.; Aukrust, Pål; Halvorsen, Bente; Ueland, Thor
• Is Part Of: Journal of internal medicine. Volume 292:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 816
• Page End: 828
• Publication Date: 2022-08-18
• Subjects: NOR‐Solidarity -- pulmonary function -- SARS‐CoV‐2 -- T‐cell activation -- T‐cell exhaustion; Internal medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/joim.13549
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6820

Abstract

Abstract: Background: T‐cell activation is associated with an adverse outcome in COVID‐19, but whether T‐cell activation and exhaustion relate to persistent respiratory dysfunction and death is unknown. Objectives: To investigate whether T‐cell activation and exhaustion persist and are associated with prolonged respiratory dysfunction and death after hospitalization for COVID‐19. Methods: Plasma and serum from two Norwegian cohorts of hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 ( n = 414) were analyzed for soluble (s) markers of T‐cell activation (sCD25) and exhaustion (sTim‐3) during hospitalization and follow‐up. Results: Both markers were strongly associated with acute respiratory failure, but only sTim‐3 was independently associated with 60‐day mortality. Levels of sTim‐3 remained elevated 3 and 12 months after hospitalization and were associated with pulmonary radiological pathology after 3 months. Conclusion: Our findings suggest prolonged T‐cell exhaustion is an important immunological sequela, potentially related to long‐term outcomes after severe COVID‐19. Abstract :