Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Endodontics Postgraduate Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, México.

2 Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, IPN, Mexico City, México.

3 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, México.

4 Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA.

5 Internal Medicine Division. Central Hospital Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto. San Luis Potosi, S.L.P.Mexico

6 Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico

Abstract

Background: Clinical manifestations SARS-CoV-2 infection are variable, ranging from asymptomatic to pneumonia, and different serious complications. It has been observed that some populations exhibit an enhanced risk for severe disease and death, compared to other ethnical groups.
Objective: To evaluate two parameters of the innate immune system, which have a relevant role in viral immunity.
Methods: In samples of peripheral blood from sixteen patients with severe COVID-19, ten with asymptomatic-mild disease, and fifteen healthy controls, the numbers of NK and NKT cells, the expression of different NK cell receptors and the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed.
Results: We found that patients with severe COVID-19 showed significant lower levels of both CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells compared to patients with mild disease or healthy subjects. Furthermore, an abnormal expression of the natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46 was observed in severe COVID-19 patients. Likewise, NK cells from these patients also showed significant differences in the expression of several killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR’s), in the two main cell subsets (CD56bright, CD56dim), compared to controls or patients with mild disease. Moreover, patients with severe COVID-19 showed lower levels of NKT cells (defined as CD3+CD56+) and increased serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8.
Conclusion: We consider that the abnormalities in NK and NKT cells observed in patients with severe COVID-19 might have a relevant role in the outcome of this infection in some population groups.

Keywords