Persistent T-cell Exhaustion in Relation to Prolonged Pulmonary Pathology and Death After Severe COVID-19: Results from Two Norwegian Cohort Studies

Overview

Journal J Intern Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2022 Aug 19

PMID 35982589

Authors

Marius Troseid

Tuva B Dahl

Jan C Holter

Anders B Kildal

Sarah L Murphy

Kuan Yang

Ana Quiles-Jimenez

Lars Heggelund

Karl Erik Muller

Anders Tveita

Annika E Michelsen

Simen Boe

Aleksander R Holten

Hedda Hoel

Alexander Mathiessen

Trond M Aalokken

Borre Fevang

Beathe K Granerud

Kristian Tonby

Katerina N Henriksen

Tori V Lerum

Fredrik Muller

Ole H Skjonsberg

Andreas Barratt-Due

Anne M Dyrhol-Riise

Pal Aukrust

Bente Halvorsen

Thor Ueland

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

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