Deep immune cell phenotyping and induced immune cell responses at admission stratified by BMI in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: An observational multicenter cohort pilot study

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  • Adin Sejdic
  • Hans Jakob Hartling
  • Jon Gitz Holler
  • Lars Klingen Gjærde
  • Arnold Matovu Dungu
  • Maria Elizabeth Engel Møller
  • Rebecca Svanberg Teglgaard
  • Carsten Utoft Utoft Niemann
  • Patrick Terrence Brooks
  • Trine H. Mogensen
  • Marie Louise Baum Jørgensen
  • Ditte Stampe Hersby
  • Annemette Hald
  • Kristina Træholt Franck

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are linked to increased hospitalization and mortality in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to characterize induced immune responses and deep immune cell profiles stratified by BMI in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods and results: This observational multicenter cohort pilot study included 122 adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 in Denmark, stratified by BMI (normal weight, overweight, obese). Inflammation was assessed using TruCulture® and immune cell profiles by flow cytometry with a customized antibody panel (DuraClone®). Patients with obesity had a more pro-inflammatory phenotype with increased TNF-α, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-10 levels post-T cell stimulation, and altered B cell profiles. Patients with obesity showed higher concentrations of naïve, transitional, and non-isotype switched memory B cells, and plasmablasts compared to normal weight patients and healthy controls. Conclusions: Obesity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients may correlate with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory IL-10, and increased B cell subset activation, highlighting the need for further studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110336
JournalClinical Immunology
Volume267
Number of pages15
ISSN1521-6616
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024

    Research areas

  • Adaptive immunity, B cells, BMI, COVID-19, Cytokines, Inflammation, Innate immunity, Obesity, SARS-CoV-2, T cells

ID: 402066284