Severe COVID-19 and aging: are monocytes the key?

Geroscience and pathology: a new frontier in understanding age-related diseases

Geroscience, a burgeoning discipline at the intersection of aging and disease, aims to unravel the intricate relationship between the aging process and pathogenesis of age-related diseases. This paper explores the pivotal role played by geroscience in reshaping our understanding of pathology, with a particular focus on age-related diseases. These diseases, spanning cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, malignancies, and neurodegenerative conditions, significantly contribute to the morbidity and mortality of older individuals. We delve into the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence, and elucidate their profound implications for the pathogenesis of various age-related diseases. Emphasis is placed on the importance of assessing key biomarkers of aging and biological age within the realm of pathology. We also scrutinize the interplay between cellular senescence and cancer biology as a central area of focus, underscoring its paramount significance in contemporary pathological research. Moreover, we shed light on the integration of anti-aging interventions that target fundamental aging processes, such as senolytics, mitochondria-targeted treatments, and interventions that influence epigenetic regulation within the domain of pathology research. In conclusion, the integration of geroscience concepts into pathological research heralds a transformative paradigm shift in our understanding of disease pathogenesis and promises breakthroughs in disease prevention and treatment.

Effective virus-specific T-cell therapy for high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: initial case studies and literature review

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mortality rates among immunocompromised patients, accentuating the need for novel, targeted therapies. Transplant recipients, with their inherent immune vulnerabilities, represent a subgroup at significantly heightened risk. Current conventional therapies often demonstrate limited effectiveness in these patients, calling for innovative treatment approaches. In immunocompromised transplant recipients, several viral infections have been successfully treated by adoptive transfer of virus-specific T-cells (VST). This paper details the successful application of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T-cell therapy, produced by an interferon-γ cytokine capture system (CliniMACS® Prodigy device), in three stem cell transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 (case 1: alpha variant, cases 2 and 3: delta variants). These patients exhibited persistent SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity accompanied by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and demonstrated only partial response to standard treatments. Remarkably, all three patients recovered and achieved viral clearance within 3 to 9 weeks post-VST treatment. Laboratory follow-up investigations identified an increase in SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells in two of the cases. A robust anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (S1/S2) IgG serological response was also recorded, albeit with varying titers. The induction of memory T-cells within the CD4 + compartment was confirmed, and previously elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels normalized post-VST therapy. The treatment was well tolerated with no observed adverse effects. While the need for specialized equipment and costs associated with VST therapy present potential challenges, the limited treatment options currently available for COVID-19 within the allogeneic stem cell transplant population, combined with the risk posed by emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations, underscore the potential of VST therapy in future clinical practice. This therapeutic approach may be particularly beneficial for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and weakened immune systems.

Approaches to pandemic prevention - the chromatin vaccine

Developing effective vaccines against viral infections have significant impacts on development, prosperity and well-being of human populations. Thus, successful vaccines such as smallpox and polio vaccines, have promoted global societal well-being. In contrast, ineffective vaccines may fuel arguments that retard scientific progress. We aim to stimulate a multilevel discussion on how to develop effective vaccines against recent and future pandemics by focusing on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), coronavirus disease (COVID) and other viral infections. We appeal to harnessing recent achievements in this field specifically towards a cure for current pandemics and prevention of the next pandemics. Among these, we propose to apply the HIV DNA in chromatin format - an end product of aborted HIV integration in episomal forms, i.e., the chromatin vaccines (cVacc), to elicit the epigenetic silencing and memory that prevent viral replication and infection.

Autopsy analysis reveals increased macrophage infiltration and cell apoptosis in COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis

Clinical data indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced respiratory failure is a fatal condition for severe COVID-19 patients. However, the pathological alterations of different types of respiratory failure remained unknown for severe COVID-19 patients. This study aims to evaluate whether there are differences in the performance of various types of respiratory failure in severe COVID-19 patients and investigate the pathological basis for these differences. The lung tissue sections of severe COVID-19 patients were assessed for the degree of injury and immune responses. Transcriptome data were used to analyze the molecular basis in severe COVID-19 patients. Severe COVID-19 patients with combined oxygenation and ventilatory failure presented more severe pulmonary fibrosis, airway obstruction, and prolonged disease course. The number of M2 macrophages increased with the degree of fibrosis in patients, suggesting that it may be closely related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The co-existence of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pulmonary environment could also participate in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, the increased apoptosis in the lungs of COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis may represent a critical factor linking sustained inflammatory responses to fibrosis. Our findings indicate that during the extended phase of COVID-19, antifibrotic and antiapoptotic treatments should be considered in conjunction with the progression of the disease.

The multifaceted benefits of walking for healthy aging: from Blue Zones to molecular mechanisms

Physical activity, including walking, has numerous health benefits in older adults, supported by a plethora of observational and interventional studies. Walking decreases the risk or severity of various health outcomes such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and dementia, while also improving mental well-being, sleep, and longevity. Dose-response relationships for walking duration and intensity are established for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Walking's favorable effects on cardiovascular risk factors are attributed to its impact on circulatory, cardiopulmonary, and immune function. Meeting current physical activity guidelines by walking briskly for 30 min per day for 5 days can reduce the risk of several age-associated diseases. Additionally, low-intensity physical exercise, including walking, exerts anti-aging effects and helps prevent age-related diseases, making it a powerful tool for promoting healthy aging. This is exemplified by the lifestyles of individuals in Blue Zones, regions of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians. Walking and other low-intensity physical activities contribute significantly to the longevity of individuals in these regions, with walking being an integral part of their daily lives. Thus, incorporating walking into daily routines and encouraging walking-based physical activity interventions can be an effective strategy for promoting healthy aging and improving health outcomes in all populations. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the vast and consistent evidence supporting the health benefits of physical activity, with a specific focus on walking, and to discuss the impact of walking on various health outcomes, including the prevention of age-related diseases. Furthermore, this review will delve into the evidence on the impact of walking and low-intensity physical activity on specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging, providing insights into the underlying biological mechanisms through which walking exerts its beneficial anti-aging effects.

Immunosenescence and Inflammaging in COVID-19

Despite knowledge gaps in understanding the full spectrum of the hyperinflammatory phase caused by SARS-CoV-2, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Susceptible people to severe COVID-19 are those with underlying medical conditions or those with dysregulated and senescence-associated immune responses. As the immune system undergoes aging in the elderly, such drastic changes predispose them to various diseases and affect their responsiveness to infections, as seen in COVID-19. At-risk groups experience poor prognosis in terms of disease recovery. Changes in the quantity and quality of immune cell function have been described in numerous literature sites. Impaired immune cell function along with age-related metabolic changes can lead to features such as hyperinflammatory response, immunosenescence, and inflammaging in COVID-19. Inflammaging is related to the increased activity of the most inflammatory factors and is the main cause of age-related diseases and tissue failure in the elderly. Since hyperinflammation is a common feature of most severe cases of COVID-19, this pathway, which is not fully understood, leads to immunosenescence and inflammaging in some individuals, especially in the elderly and those with comorbidities. In this review, we shed some light on the age-related abnormalities of innate and adaptive immune cells and how hyperinflammatory immune responses contribute to the inflammaging process, leading to clinical deterioration. Further, we provide insights into immunomodulation-based therapeutic approaches, which are potentially important considerations in vaccine design for elderly populations.

Transport by circulating myeloid cells drives liposomal accumulation in inflamed synovium

The therapeutic potential of liposomes to deliver drugs into inflamed tissue is well documented. Liposomes are believed to largely transport drugs into inflamed joints by selective extravasation through endothelial gaps at the inflammatory sites, known as the enhanced permeation and retention effect. However, the potential of blood-circulating myeloid cells for the uptake and delivery of liposomes has been largely overlooked. Here we show that myeloid cells can transport liposomes to inflammatory sites in a collagen-induced arthritis model. It is shown that the selective depletion of the circulating myeloid cells reduces the accumulation of liposomes up to 50-60%, suggesting that myeloid-cell-mediated transport accounts for more than half of liposomal accumulation in inflamed regions. Although it is widely believed that PEGylation inhibits premature liposome clearance by the mononuclear phagocytic system, our data show that the long blood circulation times of PEGylated liposomes rather favours uptake by myeloid cells. This challenges the prevailing theory that synovial liposomal accumulation is primarily due to the enhanced permeation and retention effect and highlights the potential for other pathways of delivery in inflammatory diseases.

Vascular mechanisms leading to progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia after COVID-19: Protocol and methodology of a prospective longitudinal observational study

INTRODUCTION

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage to dementia, affecting up to 20% of the aging population worldwide. Patients with MCI have an annual conversion rate to dementia of 15-20%. Thus, conditions that increase the conversion from MCI to dementia are of the utmost public health concern. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant impact on our aging population with cognitive decline as one of the leading complications following recovery from acute infection. Recent findings suggest that COVID-19 increases the conversion rate from MCI to dementia in older adults. Hence, we aim to uncover a mechanism for COVID-19 induced cognitive impairment and progression to dementia to pave the way for future therapeutic targets that may mitigate COVID-19 induced cognitive decline.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective longitudinal study is conducted at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Patients are screened in the Department of Neurology and must have a formal diagnosis of MCI, and MRI imaging prior to study enrollment. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria are enrolled and followed-up at 18-months after their first visit. Visit one and 18-month follow-up will include an integrated and cohesive battery of vascular and cognitive measurements, including peripheral endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, laser speckle contrast imaging), retinal and cerebrovascular hemodynamics (dynamic vessel retinal analysis, functional near-infrared spectroscopy), and fluid and crystalized intelligence (NIH-Toolbox, n-back). Multiple logistic regression will be used for primary longitudinal data analysis to determine whether COVID-19 related impairment in neurovascular coupling and increases in white matter hyperintensity burden contribute to progression to dementia.

Multiscale network analysis identifies potential receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and reveals their tissue-specific and age-dependent expression

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected tens of millions of individuals and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Here, we present a comprehensive, multiscale network analysis of the transcriptional response to the virus. In particular, we focused on key regulators, cell receptors, and host processes that were hijacked by the virus for its advantage. ACE2-controlled processes involved CD300e (a TYROBP receptor) as a key regulator and the activation of IL-2 pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. We further investigated the age dependency of such receptors in different tissues. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the gene regulatory organization during the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the tissue-specific, age-dependent expression of the cell receptors involved in COVID-19.

TLR7 Activation in M-CSF-Dependent Monocyte-Derived Human Macrophages Potentiates Inflammatory Responses and Prompts Neutrophil Recruitment

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is an endosomal pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptor that senses single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and whose engagement results in the production of type I IFN and pro-inflammatory cytokines upon viral exposure. Recent genetic studies have established that a dysfunctional TLR7-initiated signaling is directly linked to the development of inflammatory responses. We present evidence that TLR7 is preferentially expressed by monocyte-derived macrophages generated in the presence of M-CSF (M-MØ). We now show that TLR7 activation in M-MØ triggers a weak MAPK, NFκB, and STAT1 activation and results in low production of type I IFN. Of note, TLR7 engagement reprograms MAFB+ M-MØ towards a pro-inflammatory transcriptional profile characterized by the expression of neutrophil-attracting chemokines (CXCL1-3, CXCL5, CXCL8), whose expression is dependent on the transcription factors MAFB and AhR. Moreover, TLR7-activated M-MØ display enhanced pro-inflammatory responses and a stronger production of neutrophil-attracting chemokines upon secondary stimulation. As aberrant TLR7 signaling and enhanced pulmonary neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio associate with impaired resolution of virus-induced inflammatory responses, these results suggest that targeting macrophage TLR7 might be a therapeutic strategy for viral infections where monocyte-derived macrophages exhibit a pathogenic role.

Immune responses in mildly versus critically ill COVID-19 patients

The current coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had devastating effects on the global health and economic system. The cellular and molecular mediators of both the innate and adaptive immune systems are critical in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, dysregulated inflammatory responses and imbalanced adaptive immunity may contribute to tissue destruction and pathogenesis of the disease. Important mechanisms in severe forms of COVID-19 include overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, impairment of type I IFN response, overactivation of neutrophils and macrophages, decreased frequencies of DC cells, NK cells and ILCs, complement activation, lymphopenia, Th1 and Treg hypoactivation, Th2 and Th17 hyperactivation, as well as decreased clonal diversity and dysregulated B lymphocyte function. Given the relationship between disease severity and an imbalanced immune system, scientists have been led to manipulate the immune system as a therapeutic approach. For example, anti-cytokine, cell, and IVIG therapies have received attention in the treatment of severe COVID-19. In this review, the role of immunity in the development and progression of COVID-19 is discussed, focusing on molecular and cellular aspects of the immune system in mild vs. severe forms of the disease. Moreover, some immune- based therapeutic approaches to COVID-19 are being investigated. Understanding key processes involved in the disease progression is critical in developing therapeutic agents and optimizing related strategies.

Deciphering the role of monocyte and monocyte distribution width (MDW) in COVID-19: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

The SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by both systemic and organ hyper-thromboinflammation, with a clinical course ranging from mild up-to critical systemic dysfunction and death. In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) the monocyte/macrophage population is deeply involved as both trigger and target, assuming the value of useful diagnostic/prognostic marker of innate cellular immunity. Several studies correlated morphological and immunophenotypic alterations of circulating monocytes with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients, concluding that monocyte distribution width (MDW) may retain clinical value in stratifying the risk of disease worsening. Through an electronic search in Medline and Scopus we performed an updated literature review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between increased MDW levels and illness severity in COVID-19 patients, deciphering role(s) and function(s) of monocytes in the harmful network underlining SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found that significantly elevated MDW values were frequently present in COVID-19 patients who developed unfavorable clinical outcomes, compounded by a significant association between monocyte anisocytosis and SARS-CoV-2 outcomes. These findings suggest that blood MDW index and its scatter plot could represent useful routine laboratory tools for early identification of patients at higher risk of unfavorable COVID-19 and for monitoring the progression of viral infection, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic efficacy throughout hospitalization. According to this evidence, therapeutic decisions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection could benefit from monitoring MDW value, with administration of drugs limiting thrombo-inflammation due to monocyte hyper-activation in patients with severe/critical COVID-19 disease.

Abnormal glucose metabolism in virus associated sepsis

Sepsis is identified as a potentially lethal organ impairment triggered by an inadequate host reaction to infection (Sepsis-3). Viral sepsis is a potentially deadly organ impairment state caused by the host's inappropriate reaction to a viral infection. However, when a viral infection occurs, the metabolism of the infected cell undergoes a variety of changes that cause the host to respond to the infection. But, until now, little has been known about the challenges faced by cellular metabolic alterations that occur during viral infection and how these changes modulate infection. This study concentrates on the alterations in glucose metabolism during viral sepsis and their impact on viral infection, with a view to exploring new potential therapeutic targets for viral sepsis.

Aging-related predictive factors for oxygenation improvement and mortality in COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients exposed to prone position: A multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients are more susceptible to Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and are more likely to develop it in severe forms, (e.g., Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome [ARDS]). Prone positioning is a treatment strategy for severe ARDS; however, its response in the elderly population remains poorly understood. The main objective was to evaluate the predictive response and mortality of elderly patients exposed to prone positioning due to ARDS-COVID-19.

METHODS

This retrospective multicenter cohort study involved 223 patients aged ≥ 65 years, who received prone position sessions for severe ARDS due to COVID-19, using invasive mechanical ventilation. The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio was used to assess the oxygenation response. The 20-point improvement in PaO₂/FiO₂ after the first prone session was considered for good response. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographic data, laboratory/image exams, complications, comorbidities, SAPS III and SOFA scores, use of anticoagulants and vasopressors, ventilator settings, and respiratory system mechanics. Mortality was defined as deaths that occurred until hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Most patients were male, with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the most prevalent comorbidities. The non-responders group had higher SAPS III and SOFA scores, and a higher incidence of complications. There was no difference in mortality rate. A lower SAPS III score was a predictor of oxygenation response, and the male sex was a risk predictor of mortality.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests the oxygenation response to prone positioning in elderly patients with severe COVID-19-ARDS correlates with the SAPS III score. Furthermore, the male sex is a risk predictor of mortality.

Phenotypic and functional alterations of monocyte subsets with aging

BACKGROUND

It has been widely accepted that monocytes are one of the central mediators contributing to inflammaging. However, it remains unclear whether aged monocytes, similar to aged T cells, have characteristics of hyperactivation and increased expression of co-inhibitory molecules.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from young (21-40 years old), middle-aged (41-60 years old), and older human subjects (> 60 years old). Flow cytometry was used to monitor changes in the expression of surface molecules of monocyte subsets and cytokine-producing capacity.

RESULTS

We observed increased tumor necrosis factor-α: TNF-α and decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in monocytes from older adults compared with young and middle-aged adults. Older adults had a greater percentage of intermediate and non-classical monocyte subsets, along with increased levels of the immune activation markers human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), and adhesion molecules cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b) and L-selectin (CD62L). Furthermore, we observed increased C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) expression on classical monocytes and decreased C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) expression on non-classical monocytes in older adult subjects. The expression of co-inhibitory receptors was reduced on monocyte subsets in older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating monocytes in older adults exhibit increased expression of activation, adhesion, and migration markers, but decreased expression of co-inhibitory molecules.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces a differential monocyte activation that may contribute to age bias in COVID-19 severity

A strong bias related to age is observed in COVID-19 patients with pediatric subjects developing a milder disease than adults. We hypothesized that a specific SARS-CoV-2 effect conjugated with preexisting differences in the immune systems may explain this. Using flow cytometry, we investigated basal immune differences in a cohort consisting of 16 non-infected young and 16 aged individuals and further leveraged an in vitro whole blood model of SARS-CoV-2 infection so that functional differences could be mined as well. In short, blood diluted in culture media was incubated 5 or 24 h with the trimeric spike protein or controls. Following unsupervised analysis, we first confirmed that the immune lymphoid and myeloid systems in adults are less efficient and prone to develop higher inflammation than those in children. We notably identified in adults a higher CD43 lymphocyte expression, known for its potentially inhibitory role. The spike protein induced different responses between adults and children, notably a higher increase of inflammatory markers together with lower monocyte and B cell activation in adults. Interestingly, CD169, a CD43 ligand overexpressed in COVID-19 patients, was confirmed to be strongly modulated by the spike protein. In conclusion, the spike protein exacerbated the preexisting lower immune responsiveness and higher inflammatory potential in adults. Altogether, some of the markers identified may explain the marked age bias and be predictive of severity.

E-Cigarette Vapour Increases ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Expression in a Flavour- and Nicotine-Dependent Manner

COVID-19 infects via the respiratory system, but it can affect multiple systems and lead to multi system failure. There is growing evidence that smoking may be associated with higher rates of COVID-19 infections and worse outcomes due to increased levels of ACE2 in lung epithelial cells, but it is unknown whether E-cigarette use may lead to increased risk of COVID-19 infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this study, healthy donor bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or nicotine or flavoured E-cigarette vapour extract (EVE) before the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 recognition receptors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes. MDMs exposed to CSE and Tobacco EVE showed increased ACE2 expression; however, no treatment altered the TMPRSS2 expression. ACE2 was found to be upregulated by >2-fold in NHBE cells exposed to CSE, as well as nicotine, banana, or chocolate EVE, while TMPRSS2 was only upregulated by CSE or nicotine EVE exposure. These findings suggesting that flavourings can increase ACE2 expression in multiple cell types, while TMPRSS2 expression increases are limited to the epithelial cells in airways and may be limited to nicotine and/or cigarette smoke exposure. Therefore, increased risk of COVID-19 infection cannot be ruled out for vapers.

RETRACTED: The pathogenicity of COVID-19 and the role of pentraxin-3: An updated review study

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. In investigating concerns regarding the contributions of the authors to this article, the editors reached out to the authors for an explanation. In addition to the concerns regarding the contribution of each author, the editors discovered suspicious changes in authorship between the original submission and the revised version of this paper. The names of the authors Ameer A Alameri and Zanko Hassan Jawhar were added to the revised version of the article without explanation and without the exceptional approval by the handling Editor, which is contrary to the journal policy on changes to authorship. The authors were unable to provide a reasonable explanation for either of the issues raised. The editor therefore feels that the findings of the manuscript cannot be relied upon and that the article needs to be retracted.

Cellular heterogeneity in disease severity and clinical outcome: Granular understanding of immune response is key

During an infectious disease progression, it is crucial to understand the cellular heterogeneity underlying the differential immune response landscape that will augment the precise information of the disease severity modulators, leading to differential clinical outcome. Patients with COVID-19 display a complex yet regulated immune profile with a heterogeneous array of clinical manifestation that delineates disease severity sub-phenotypes and worst clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate/understand/enumerate the role of cellular heterogeneity during COVID-19 disease to understand the underlying immunological mechanisms regulating the disease severity. This article aims to comprehend the current findings regarding dysregulation and impairment of immune response in COVID-19 disease severity sub-phenotypes and relate them to a wide array of heterogeneous populations of immune cells. On the basis of the findings, it suggests a possible functional correlation between cellular heterogeneity and the COVID-19 disease severity. It highlights the plausible modulators of age, gender, comorbidities, and hosts' genetics that may be considered relevant in regulating the host response and subsequently the COVID-19 disease severity. Finally, it aims to highlight challenges in COVID-19 disease that can be achieved by the application of single-cell genomics, which may aid in delineating the heterogeneity with more granular understanding. This will augment our future pandemic preparedness with possibility to identify the subset of patients with increased diseased severity.

Repressed Ang 1-7 in COVID-19 Is Inversely Associated with Inflammation and Coagulation

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which belongs to an anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic counter-regulatory arm of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). ACE2 dysfunction and RAS dysregulation has been explored as a driving force in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but data from COVID-19 patients has been inconsistent and inconclusive. We sought to identify disruptions of the classical (ACE)/angiotensin (Ang) II/Ang II type-1 receptor (AT₁R) and the counter-regulatory ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas Receptor (MasR) pathways in patients with COVID-19 and correlate these with severity of infection and markers of inflammation and coagulation. Ang II and Ang 1–7 levels in plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 230 patients, 166 of whom were SARS-CoV-2+. Ang 1–7 was repressed in COVID-19 patients compared to that in SARS-CoV-2 negative outpatient controls. Since the control cohort was less sick than the SARS-CoV-2+ group, this association between decreased Ang 1–7 and COVID-19 cannot be attributed to COVID-19 specifically as opposed to critical illness more generally. Multivariable logistic regression analyses demonstrated that every 10-pg/mL increase in plasma Ang 1–7 was associated with a 3% reduction in the odds of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.97, confidence interval [CI] 0.95 to 0.99) and a 3% reduction in odds of requiring oxygen supplementation (AOR 0.97, CI 0.95 to 0.99) and/or ventilation (AOR 0.97, CI 0.94 to 0.99). Ang 1–7 was also inversely associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and d-dimer in this patient cohort, suggesting that reduced activity in this protective counter-regulatory arm of the RAS contributes to the hyper-immune response and diffuse coagulation activation documented in COVID-19.

IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a unique disease, COVID-19, which ranges in severity from asymptomatic to causing severe respiratory failure and death. Viral transmission throughout the world continues at a high rate despite the development and widespread use of effective vaccines. For those patients who contract COVID-19 and become severely ill, few therapeutic options have been shown to provide benefits and mortality rates are high. Additionally, the pathophysiology underlying COVID-19 disease presentation, progression, and severity is incompletely understood. The significance of our research is in confirming the role of renin-angiotensin system dysfunction in COVID-19 pathogenesis in a large cohort of patients with diverse disease severity and outcomes. Additionally, to our knowledge, this is the first study to pair angiotensin peptide levels with inflammatory and thrombotic markers. These data support the role of ongoing clinical trials examining renin-angiotensin system-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Symptoms and Deaths among Healthcare Workers, United States

We evaluated whether demographics and COVID-19 symptoms predicted COVID-19 deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United States by comparing COVID-19 deaths in HCWs with 3 control groups (HCW nondeaths, non-HCW deaths, and non-HCW nondeaths) using a case–control design. We obtained patient-level data of 33 variables reported during January 1, 2020–October 12, 2021, in all US states. We used logistic regression analysis while controlling for confounders. We found that persons who were >50 years of age, male, Black, or Asian experienced significantly more deaths than matched controls. In addition, HCWs who died had higher risks for the most severe clinical indicators. We also found that the most indicative symptoms were preexisting medical conditions, shortness of breath, fever, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In summary, minority, male, and older HCWs had greater risk for COVID-19 death. Severe clinical indicators and specific symptoms may predict COVID-19–related deaths among HCWs.

What is the impact of circulating histones in COVID-19: a systematic review

The infectious respiratory condition COVID-19 manifests a clinical course ranging from mild/moderate up-to critical systemic dysfunction and death linked to thromboinflammation. During COVID-19 infection, neutrophil extracellular traps participating in cytokine storm and coagulation dysfunction have emerged as diagnostic/prognostic markers. The characterization of NET identified that mainly histones, have the potential to initiate and propagate inflammatory storm and thrombosis, leading to increased disease severity and decreased patient survival. Baseline assessment and serial monitoring of blood histone concentration may be conceivably useful in COVID-19. We performed a literature review to explore the association among increased circulating levels of histones, disease severity/mortality in COVID-19 patients, and comparison of histone values between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. We carried out an electronic search in Medline and Scopus, using the keywords “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” AND “histone” OR “citrullinated histones” OR “hyperhistonemia”, between 2019 and present time (i.e., June 07th, 2022), which allowed to select 17 studies, totaling 1,846 subjects. We found that substantially elevated histone values were consistently present in all COVID-19 patients who developed unfavorable clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that blood histone monitoring upon admission and throughout hospitalization may be useful for early identification of higher risk of unfavorable COVID-19 progression. Therapeutic decisions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 based on the use of histone cut-off values may be driven by drugs engaging histones, finally leading to the limitation of cytotoxic, inflammatory, and thrombotic effects of circulating histones in viral sepsis.

A descriptive study of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and precautions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students regarding COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapy and rehabilitation students need to be aware of the global COVID-19 pandemic and choose the correct interventions. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and precautions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students regarding COVID-19 during the global pandemic. METHODS: A total of 438 physiotherapy and rehabilitation students participated in the study. A web-based descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted using the “Google Forms” on physiotherapy and rehabilitation students in the months of February, March, and April 2021. The online questionnaire consisted of six main sections containing 130 items: (1) sociodemographic information, (2) knowledge sources and knowledge about COVID-19, (3) attitudes about COVID-19, (4) behaviors, (5) precautions, and (6) being a physiotherapy and rehabilitation student during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data were reported in terms of mean, standard deviation, number, frequency, and percentage values. RESULTS: The vast majority of the participants (n = 291, 66.5%) often/always accessed information about COVID-19 via social media, 397 (90.6%) of them often/always wear masks. Moreover, 419 (95.6%) of the physiotherapy students knew the symptoms of COVID-19, and 409 (93.4%) of the students have been responded “yes” to the question of whether pulmonary rehabilitation should be applied in intensive care units for COVID-19 infections. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy and rehabilitation students have adequate awareness about COVID-19. In this regard, physiotherapy and rehabilitation students should be included in appropriate educational programs to protect themselves, their relatives, and patients against COVID-19, and their knowledge about the treatment methods should be increased.

The Evaluation of Relationship Between Monocyte/High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio (MHR) and COVID-19

Objective: Early diagnosis is important for severe diseases in COVID-19. Monocyte/high dansity lipoprotein ratio (MHR) is a new prognostic marker indicating inflammation. We aimed to investigate the relationship between MHR and diseases severity in COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory data on the first day of hospitalization were obtained from medical records of hospital. The clinical data of 301 patients were included in study. Cases were diagnosed on the basis of interim guidance of World Health Organization (WHO). Patients were classified into two groups as non-severe COVID-19 and severe COVID-19. MHR were calculated with laboratory data on the first day of hospitalization. The relationship between MHR level and COVID-19 severity was evaluated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by using SPSS 25 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) package program. Statistical significance level was accepted as p

Chlorpromazine, a Clinically Approved Drug, Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid-Mediated Induction of IL-6 in Human Monocytes

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 virus, led to the unprecedented mobilization of scientists, resulting in the rapid development of vaccines and potential pharmaceuticals. Although COVID-19 symptoms are moderately severe in most people, in some cases the disease can result in pneumonia and acute respiratory failure as well as can be fatal. The severe course of COVID-19 is associated with a hyperinflammatory state called a cytokine storm. One of the key cytokines creating a proinflammatory environment is IL-6, which is secreted mainly by monocytes and macrophages. Therefore, this cytokine has become a target for some therapies that inhibit its biological action; however, these therapies are expensive, and their availability is limited in poorer countries. Thus, new cheaper drugs that can overcome the severe infections of COVID-19 are needed. Here, we show that chlorpromazine inhibits the expression and secretion of IL-6 by monocytes activated by SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleocapsid protein and affects the activity of NF-κB and MEK/ERK signaling. Our results, including others, indicate that chlorpromazine, which has been used for several decades as a neuroleptic, exerts antiviral and immunomodulatory activity, is safe and inexpensive, and might be a desirable drug to support the therapy of patients with COVID-19.

A systems biology approach identifies candidate drugs to reduce mortality in severely ill patients with COVID-19

Despite the availability of highly efficacious vaccines, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lacks effective drug treatment, which results in a high rate of mortality. To address this therapeutic shortcoming, we applied a systems biology approach to the study of patients hospitalized with severe COVID. We show that, at the time of hospital admission, patients who were equivalent on the clinical ordinal scale displayed significant differential monocyte epigenetic and transcriptomic attributes between those who would survive and those who would succumb to COVID-19. We identified messenger RNA metabolism, RNA splicing, and interferon signaling pathways as key host responses overactivated by patients who would not survive. Those pathways are prime drug targets to reduce mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19, leading us to identify tacrolimus, zotatifin, and nintedanib as three strong candidates for treatment of severely ill patients at the time of hospital admission.

Comorbidities and increased mortality of COVID-19 among the elderly: A systematic review

Purpose

The purpose of current review is to conduct a systematic overview of articles published between 2019 and 2021 on the relationship of comorbidities and mortality due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the elderly population.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search on PubMed for articles published between 2019 and 2021 to identify any cohort and case-control studies that investigated the relationship of comorbidities and COVID-19 mortality among the elderly, defined as 60 years of age and above. Databases were searched independently by two authors. Disagreements were resolved by the inclusion of a third investigator. Reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded from our systematic review.

Results

A total of 15 studies were selected for our systematic review. Of the included studies, 3 were case-control, 3 were prospective cohort studies and 9 were retrospective cohort studies. As for size, 10 studies were conducted on populations of <1000 participants, 3 ranging from 1001 to 10,000, and 2 on populations of >10,000 individuals. The included studies found that the presence of certain conditions, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, renal diseases, malignancies, diseases of the nervous system and diabetes are associated to increased mortality in populations that consisted of elderly patients.

Conclusion

Results of our systematic review suggest that comorbidities contribute to increased COVID-19 mortality among the elderly. The detrimental effect of comorbidities and advanced age on the immune response could lead to a more frequent occurrence of symptomatic and severe infections with COVID-19.

Immunouniverse of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 virus has become a global health problem that has caused millions of deaths worldwide. The infection can present with multiple clinical features ranging from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients to patients with severe or critical illness that can even lead to death. Although the immune system plays an important role in pathogen control, SARS-CoV-2 can drive dysregulation of this response and trigger severe immunopathology. Exploring the mechanisms of the immune response involved in host defense against SARS-CoV-2 allows us to understand its immunopathogenesis and possibly detect features that can be used as potential therapies to eliminate the virus. The main objective of this review on SARS-CoV-2 is to highlight the interaction between the virus and the immune response. We explore the function and action of the immune system, the expression of molecules at the site of infection that cause hyperinflammation and hypercoagulation disorders, the factors leading to the development of pneumonia and subsequent severe acute respiratory distress syndrome which is the leading cause of death in patients with COVID-19.

Immune Signature of COVID-19: In-Depth Reasons and Consequences of the Cytokine Storm

In the beginning of the third year of the fight against COVID-19, the virus remains at least still one step ahead in the pandemic "war". The key reasons are evolving lineages and mutations, resulting in an increase of transmissibility and ability to evade immune system. However, from the immunologic point of view, the cytokine storm (CS) remains a poorly understood and difficult to combat culprit of the extended number of in-hospital admissions and deaths. It is not fully clear whether the cytokine release is a harmful result of suppression of the immune system or a positive reaction necessary to clear the virus. To develop methods of appropriate treatment and therefore decrease the mortality of the so-called COVID-19-CS, we need to look deeply inside its pathogenesis, which is the purpose of this review.

Distinct Expression Patterns of Interleukin-22 Receptor 1 on Blood Hematopoietic Cells in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The new pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 is characterized by uncontrolled hyper-inflammation in severe cases. As the IL-22/IL-22R1 axis was reported to be involved in inflammation during viral infections, we characterized the expression of IL-22 receptor1, IL-22 and IL-22 binding protein in COVID-19 patients. Blood samples were collected from 19 non-severe and 14 severe patients on the day they presented (D0), at D14, and six months later, and from 6 non-infected controls. The IL-22R1 expression was characterized by flow cytometry. Results were related to HLA-DR expression of myeloid cells, to plasma concentrations of different cytokines and chemokines and NK cells and T lymphocytes functions characterized by their IFN-γ, IL-22, IL-17A, granzyme B and perforin content. The numbers of IL-22R1⁺ classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes and the proportions of IL-22R1⁺ plasmacytoid DC (pDC), myeloid DC1 and DC2 (mDC1, mDC2) were higher in patients than controls at D0. The proportions of IL-22R1⁺ classical and intermediate monocytes, and pDC and mDC2 remained high for six months. High proportions of IL-22R1⁺ non-classical monocytes and mDC2 displayed HLA-DR^high expression and were thus activated. Multivariate analysis for all IL-22R1⁺ myeloid cells discriminated the severity of the disease (AUC=0.9023). However, correlation analysis between IL-22R1⁺ cell subsets and plasma chemokine concentrations suggested pro-inflammatory effects of some subsets and protective effects of others. The numbers of IL-22R1⁺ classical monocytes and pDC were positively correlated with pro-inflammatory chemokines MCP-1 and IP-10 in severe infections, whereas IL-22R1⁺ intermediate monocytes were negatively correlated with IL-6, IFN-α and CRP in non-severe infections. Moreover, in the absence of in vitro stimulation, NK and CD4⁺ T cells produced IFN-γ and IL-22, and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells produced IL-17A. CD4⁺ T lymphocytes also expressed IL-22R1, the density of its expression defining two different functional subsets. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by an abnormal expression of IL22R1 on blood myeloid cells and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. Our results suggest that the involvement of the IL-22R1/IL-22 axis could be protective at the beginning of SARS-CoV-2 infection but could shift to a detrimental response over time.

Aging versus youth: Endocrine aspects of vulnerability for COVID-19

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized with a wide range of clinical presentations from asymptomatic to severe disease. In patients with severe disease, the main causes of mortality have been acute respiratory distress syndrome, cytokine storm and thrombotic events. Although all factors that may be associated with disease severity are not yet clear, older age remains a leading risk factor. While age-related immune changes may be at the bottom of severe course of COVID-19, age-related hormonal changes have considerable importance due to their interactions with these immune alterations, and also with endothelial dysfunction and comorbid cardiometabolic disorders. This review aims to provide the current scientific evidence on the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the pathway to severe COVID-19, from a collaborative perspective of age-related immune and hormonal changes together, in accordance with the clinical knowledge acquired thus far.

Potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19, its relationship with lung axis, central nervous system (CNS) axis, and improvement with probiotic therapy

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease caused by a new corona virus. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. COVID-19 could affect the gastrointestinal system via gut microbiota impairment. Gut microbiota could affect lung health through a relationship between gut and lung microbiota, which is named gut-lung axis. Gut microbiota impairment plays a role in pathogenesis of various pulmonary disease states, so GI diseases were found to be associated with respiratory diseases. Moreover, most infected people will develop mild to moderate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomachache, which is caused by impairment in gut microbiota. Therefore, the current study aimed to review potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19, its relation with lung axis, Central Nervous System (CNS) axis and improvement with probiotic therapy. Also, this review can be a guide for potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19.

Comprehensive Immune Profiling Reveals CD56+ Monocytes and CD31+ Endothelial Cells Are Increased in Severe COVID-19 Disease

Immune response dysregulation plays a key role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogenesis. In this study, we evaluated immune and endothelial blood cell profiles of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to determine critical differences between those with mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 using spectral flow cytometry. We examined a suite of immune phenotypes, including monocytes, T cells, NK cells, B cells, endothelial cells, and neutrophils, alongside surface and intracellular markers of activation. Our results showed progressive lymphopenia and depletion of T cell subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺) in patients with severe disease and a significant increase in the CD56⁺CD14⁺Ki67⁺IFN-γ⁺ monocyte population in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 that has not been previously described. Enhanced circulating endothelial cells (CD45^-CD31⁺CD34⁺CD146⁺), circulating endothelial progenitors (CD45^-CD31⁺CD34^+/-CD146^-), and neutrophils (CD11b⁺CD66b⁺) were coevaluated for COVID-19 severity. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated the synergism among age, obesity, and hypertension with upregulated CD56⁺ monocytes, endothelial cells, and decreased T cells that lead to severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Circulating monocytes and endothelial cells may represent important cellular markers for monitoring postacute sequelae and impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection during convalescence and for their role in immune host defense in high-risk adults after vaccination.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants, Vaccines, and Host Immunity

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new beta coronavirus that emerged at the end of 2019 in the Hubei province of China. SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Herd or community immunity has been proposed as a strategy to protect the vulnerable, and can be established through immunity from past infection or vaccination. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection results in the development of a reservoir of resilient memory cells is under investigation. Vaccines have been developed at an unprecedented rate and 7 408 870 760 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. Recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants are more transmissible with a reduced sensitivity to immune mechanisms. This is due to the presence of amino acid substitutions in the spike protein, which confer a selective advantage. The emergence of variants therefore poses a risk for vaccine effectiveness and long-term immunity, and it is crucial therefore to determine the effectiveness of vaccines against currently circulating variants. Here we review both SARS-CoV-2-induced host immune activation and vaccine-induced immune responses, highlighting the responses of immune memory cells that are key indicators of host immunity. We further discuss how variants emerge and the currently circulating variants of concern (VOC), with particular focus on implications for vaccine effectiveness. Finally, we describe new antibody treatments and future vaccine approaches that will be important as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Validation of a Classification Model Using Complete Blood Count to Predict Severe Human Adenovirus Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Pediatric Cases

BACKGROUND

Human adenovirus (HAdV) lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are prone to severe cases and even cause death in children. Here, we aimed to develop a classification model to predict severity in pediatric patients with HAdV LRTIs using complete blood count (CBC).

METHODS

The CBC parameters from pediatric patients with a diagnosis of HAdV LRTIs from 2013 to 2019 were collected during the disease's course. The data were analyzed as potential predictors for severe cases and were selected using a random forest model.

RESULTS

We enrolled 1,652 CBC specimens from 1,069 pediatric patients with HAdV LRTIs in the present study. Four hundred and seventy-four patients from 2017 to 2019 were used as the discovery cohort, and 470 patients from 2013 to 2016 were used as the validation cohort. The monocyte ratio (MONO%) was the most obvious difference between the mild and severe groups at onset, and could be used as a marker for the early accurate prediction of the severity [area under the subject operating characteristic curve (AUROC): 0.843]. Four risk factors [MONO%, hematocrit (HCT), red blood cell count (RBC), and platelet count (PLT)] were derived to construct a classification model of severe and mild cases using a random forest model (AUROC: 0.931 vs. 0.903).

CONCLUSION

Monocyte ratio can be used as an individual predictor of severe cases in the early stages of HAdV LRTIs. The four risk factors model is a simple and accurate risk assessment tool that can predict severe cases in the early stages of HAdV LRTIs.

Pulmonary lesions induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic cats

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019, which ranges from fatal disease in some to mild or subclinical in most affected individuals. Many recovered human patients report persistent respiratory signs; however, lung disease in post-acute infection is poorly understood. Our objective was to describe histologic lung lesions and viral loads following experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection in 11 cats. Microscopic evaluation at 3, 6, 10, or 28 days postinoculation (DPI) identified mild to moderate patchy interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolar epithelial damage, and occlusive histiocytic bronchiolitis. Based on immunohistochemistry, alveolar septal thickening was due to CD204-positive macrophages, fewer B and T lymphocytes, type II pneumocytes, and capillary proliferation with a relative dearth of fibrosis. In blood vessel endothelium, there was reactive hypertrophy or vacuolar degeneration and increased MHC II expression at all time points. Unexpectedly, one cat from the 28 DPI group had severe subacute regionally extensive lymphohistiocytic pneumonia with multifocal consolidation, vasculitis, and alveolar fibrin. Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA within the lung at 3 and 6 DPI, and viral RNA was below the limit of detection at 10 and 28 DPI, suggesting that pulmonary lesions persist beyond detection of viral RNA. These findings clarify our comparative understanding of disease induced by SARS-CoV-2 and suggest that cats can serve as an informative model to study post-acute pulmonary sequelae.

COVID-19, what could sepsis, severe acute pancreatitis, gender differences, and aging teach us?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a potentially life-threatening disease, defined as Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). The most common signs and symptoms of this pathological condition include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and sudden onset of anosmia, ageusia, or dysgeusia. The course of COVID-19 is mild or moderate in more than 80% of cases, but it is severe or critical in about 14% and 5% of infected subjects respectively, with a significant risk of mortality. SARS-CoV-2 related infection is characterized by some pathogenetic events, resembling those detectable in other pathological conditions, such as sepsis and severe acute pancreatitis. All these syndromes are characterized by some similar features, including the coexistence of an exuberant inflammatory- as well as an anti-inflammatory-response with immune depression. Based on current knowledge concerning the onset and the development of acute pancreatitis and sepsis, we have considered these syndromes as a very interesting paradigm for improving our understanding of pathogenetic events detectable in patients with COVID-19. The aim of our review is: 1)to examine the pathogenetic mechanisms acting during the emergence of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes in human pathology; 2)to examine inflammatory and anti-inflammatory events in sepsis, acute pancreatitis, and SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical manifestations detectable in patients suffering from these syndromes also according to the age and gender of these individuals; as well as to analyze the possible common and different features among these pathological conditions; 3)to obtain insights into our knowledge concerning COVID-19 pathogenesis. This approach may improve the management of patients suffering from this disease and it may suggest more effective diagnostic approaches and schedules of therapy, depending on the different phases and/or on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Metformin Suppresses Monocyte Immunometabolic Activation by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Subunit 1

A hallmark of COVID-19 is a hyperinflammatory state associated with severity. Monocytes undergo metabolic reprogramming and produce inflammatory cytokines when stimulated with SARS-CoV-2. We hypothesized that binding by the viral spike protein mediates this effect, and that drugs which regulate immunometabolism could inhibit the inflammatory response. Monocytes stimulated with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit 1 showed a dose-dependent increase in glycolytic metabolism associated with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This response was dependent on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, as chetomin inhibited glycolysis and cytokine production. Inhibition of glycolytic metabolism by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) or glucose deprivation also inhibited the glycolytic response, and 2-DG strongly suppressed cytokine production. Glucose-deprived monocytes rescued cytokine production by upregulating oxidative phosphorylation, an effect which was not present in 2-DG-treated monocytes due to the known effect of 2-DG on suppressing mitochondrial metabolism. Finally, pre-treatment of monocytes with metformin strongly suppressed spike protein-mediated cytokine production and metabolic reprogramming. Likewise, metformin pre-treatment blocked cytokine induction by SARS-CoV-2 strain WA1/2020 in direct infection experiments. In summary, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces a pro-inflammatory immunometabolic response in monocytes that can be suppressed by metformin, and metformin likewise suppresses inflammatory responses to live SARS-CoV-2. This has potential implications for the treatment of hyperinflammation during COVID-19.

Drug delivery systems as immunomodulators for therapy of infectious disease: Relevance to COVID-19

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, and the ensuing global pandemic, has resulted in an unprecedented response to identify therapies that can limit uncontrolled inflammation observed in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The immune pathology behind COVID-19 is complex and involves the activation and interaction of multiple systems including, but not limited to, complement, inflammasomes, endothelial as well as innate and adaptive immune cells to bring about a convoluted profile of inflammation, coagulation and tissue damage. To date, therapeutic approaches have focussed on inhibition of coagulation, untargeted immune suppression and/or cytokine-directed blocking agents. Regardless of recently achieved improvements in individual patient outcomes and survival rates, improved and focussed approaches targeting individual systems involved is needed to further improve prognosis and wellbeing. This review summarizes the current understanding of molecular and cellular systems involved in the pathophysiology of COVID-19, and their contribution to pathogen clearance and damage to then discuss possible therapeutic options involving immunomodulatory drug delivery systems as well as summarising the complex interplay between them.

State-level COVID-19 outbreak and stock returns

We use state-level data to evaluate the connection between outbreaks of COVID-19 and stock returns over the period January-June 2020. We show that daily increases in the number of infected cases, hospitalized cases, and deaths are negatively associated with next day stock returns of firms headquartered in the same state. The relationship is weaker among states with high levels of medical resources and states that are likely to get support from the federal government. In addition, we find that the negative effect is reduced for firms that report an expectation that an outbreak will increase revenues and for firms with a strong corporate social responsibility practice. We believe our study is the first paper to assess cross-sectional stock price reactions to COVID-19 as a function of the state-level impact of the pandemic outbreak.

Elderly Patient Care: A New Reality of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Poland is among the European countries currently facing the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A lot of studies confirm the mortality rate of COVID-19 increases with age. Considering the particularly adverse outcomes of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, preventing infections should be the priority for public health professionals. One method for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections among eldery people may involve implementing procedures for limiting the spread of the pathogen, and providing education to medical staff, so as to bridge any gaps in knowledge on virus spread and post-infection or post-exposure management. Three residential medical centers in Poland were selected for evaluation of existing medical procedures to identify any errors in the current procedures applied for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the facility. The project involved 4 steps: (1) Audit of the existing medical procedures; (2) Knowledge evaluation for the staff (n=185) in the senior- and disabled care facilities, administration of a knowledge test developed by the authors to assess knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 prevention; (3) Training for medical staff; (4) Updates and implementation of procedures. The knowledge test conducted revealed a lack of knowledge of medical personnel about SARS-CoV-2. The deficiencies of the surveyed group varied depending on the place of employment. Almost half of the surveyed medical centers (center No. 1 (52%) vs. center No. 2 (44%) vs. center No. 3(59%)) believed that elderly people usually do not show symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the facility No. 1, 70% of respondents did know that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via the alimentary route compared to center No. 2 and No. 3 where knowledge about it showed only 28,9% and 24,8% responders, respectively. Also, in facility No. 1, the least among the studied group (67%) knew that people with comorbidities were at risk of covid-19 compared to respondents from facility No. 2 and 3, where, respectively, 100% and 93% had such knowledge. Only 33.3% of the staff of facility No. 1 knew how to deal with a patient who will present symptoms such as temp >38 degrees with coughing or dyspnea while in institution No. 2 and 3, this knowledge was slightly higher at 44% and 60% respectively. The audit of the existing hygiene procedures used to limit the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread demonstrated a number of shortcomings. Employees at the residential medical care centers included in the study had gaps in knowledge on the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The training sessions implemented at the next stage improved knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infections. Additionally, decisions were made to modify certain procedures and introduce new ones to better prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Animal reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2: calculable COVID-19 risk for older adults from animal to human transmission

The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the highly contagious respiratory pathogen SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), has already claimed close to three million lives. SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic disease: it emerged from a bat reservoir and it can infect a number of agricultural and companion animal species. SARS-CoV-2 can cause respiratory and intestinal infections, and potentially systemic multi-organ disease, in both humans and animals. The risk for severe illness and death with COVID-19 significantly increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. To combat the pandemic and protect the most susceptible group of older adults, understanding the human-animal interface and its relevance to disease transmission is vitally important. Currently high infection numbers are being sustained via human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Yet, identifying potential animal reservoirs and potential vectors of the disease will contribute to stronger risk assessment strategies. In this review, the current information about SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential spread of SARS-CoV-2 to humans through contact with domestic animals (including dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters), agricultural animals (e.g., farmed minks), laboratory animals, wild animals (e.g., deer mice), and zoo animals (felines, non-human primates) are discussed with a special focus on reducing mortality in older adults.

Imbalanced Immune Response of T-Cell and B-Cell Subsets in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The immunological changes associated with COVID-19 are largely unknown.

METHODS

Patients with COVID-19 showing moderate (n = 18; SpO2 > 93%, respiratory rate > 22 per minute, CRP > 10 mg/L) and severe (n = 23; SpO₂ < 93%, respiratory rate >30 per minute, PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤ 300 mmHg, permanent oxygen therapy, qSOFA > 2) infection, and 37 healthy donors (HD) were enrolled. Circulating T- and B-cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

CD4+Th cells were skewed toward Th2-like phenotypes within CD45RA+CD62L- (CM) and CD45RA-CD62L- (EM) cells in patients with severe COVID-19, while CM CCR6+ Th17-like cells were decreased if compared with HD. Within CM Th17-like cells "classical" Th17-like cells were increased and Th17.1-like cells were decreased in severe COVID-19 cases. Circulating CM follicular Th-like (Tfh) cells were decreased in all COVID-19 patients, and Tfh17-like cells represented the most predominant subset in severe COVID-19 cases. Both groups of patients showed increased levels of IgD-CD38++ B cells, while the levels of IgD+CD38- and IgD-CD38- were decreased. The frequency of IgD+CD27+ and IgD-CD27+ B cells was significantly reduced in severe COVID-19 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed an imbalance within almost all circulating memory Th subsets during acute COVID-19 and showed that altered Tfh polarization led to a dysregulated humoral immune response.

On Deep Landscape Exploration of COVID-19 Patients Cells and Severity Markers

COVID-19 is a disease with a spectrum of clinical responses ranging from moderate to critical. To study and control its effects, a large number of researchers are focused on two substantial aims. On the one hand, the discovery of diverse biomarkers to classify and potentially anticipate the disease severity of patients. These biomarkers could serve as a medical criterion to prioritize attention to those patients with higher prone to severe responses. On the other hand, understanding how the immune system orchestrates its responses in this spectrum of disease severities is a fundamental issue required to design new and optimized therapeutic strategies. In this work, using single-cell RNAseq of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of nine patients with COVID-19 and three healthy controls, we contribute to both aspects. First, we presented computational supervised machine-learning models with high accuracy in classifying the disease severity (moderate and severe) in patients with COVID-19 starting from single-cell data from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Second, we identified regulatory mechanisms from the heterogeneous cell populations in the lungs microenvironment that correlated with different clinical responses. Given the results, patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms showed an activation/inactivation profile for their analyzed cells leading to a sequential and innocuous immune response. In comparison, severe patients might be promoting cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory responses in a systemic fashion involving epithelial and immune cells without the possibility to develop viral clearance and immune memory. Consequently, we present an in-depth landscape analysis of how transcriptional factors and pathways from these heterogeneous populations can regulate their expression to promote or restrain an effective immune response directly linked to the patients prognosis.

Convalescent COVID-19 Patients Without Comorbidities Display Similar Immunophenotypes Over Time Despite Divergent Disease Severities

COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can assume a highly variable disease course, ranging from asymptomatic infection, which constitutes the majority of cases, to severe respiratory failure. This implies a diverse host immune response to SARS-CoV-2. However, the immunological underpinnings underlying these divergent disease courses remain elusive. We therefore set out to longitudinally characterize immune signatures of convalescent COVID-19 patients stratified according to their disease severity. Our unique convalescent COVID-19 cohort consists of 74 patients not confounded by comorbidities. This is the first study of which we are aware that excludes immune abrogations associated with non-SARS-CoV-2 related risk factors of disease severity. Patients were followed up and analyzed longitudinally (2, 4 and 6 weeks after infection) by high-dimensional flow cytometric profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), in-depth serum analytics, and transcriptomics. Immune phenotypes were correlated to disease severity. Convalescence was overall associated with uniform immune signatures, but distinct immune signatures for mildly versus severely affected patients were detectable within a 2-week time window after infection.

A new haematocytometric index: Predicting severity and mortality risk value in COVID-19 patients

INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a major public health concern spanning from healthy carriers to patients with life-threatening conditions. Although most of COVID-19 patients have mild-to-moderate clinical symptoms, some patients have severe pneumonia leading to death. Therefore, the early prediction of disease prognosis and severity is crucial in COVID-19 patients. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the haemocytometric parameters and identify severity score associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

METHODS

Clinical and laboratory records were retrospectively reviewed from 97 cases of COVID-19 admitted to hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. The patient groups were subdivided into three major groups: Group 1 (Non-critical): 59 patients, Group 2 (Critical-Survivors): 23 patients and Group 3 (Critical-Non-survivors):15 patients. These data was tested for correlation, including with derived haemocytometric parameters. The blood analyses were performed the Sysmex XN-series automated hematology analyser using standard laboratory protocols. All statistical testing was undertaken using Analyse-it software.

RESULTS

97 patients with COVID-19 disease and 935 sequential complete blood count (CBC-Diff) measurements (days 0-30) were included in the final analyses. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that red cell distribution width (RDW) (>13.7), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (4.4), Hemoglobin (Hgb) (<11.4 gr/dL) and monocyte to neutrophil ratio (MNR) (0.084) had the highest area under curve (AUC) values, respectively in discrimination critical patients than non-critical patients. In determining Group 3, MNR (<0.095), NLR (>5.2), Plateletcount (PLT) (>142 x103/L) and RDW (>14) were important haemocytometric parameters, and the mortality risk value created by their combination had the highest AUC value (AUC = 0.911, 95% CI, 0886-0.931). Trend analysis of CBC-Diff parameters over 30 days of hospitalization, NLR on day 2, MNR on day 4, RDW on day 6 and PLT on day 7 of admission were found to be the best time related parameters in discrimination non-critical (mild-moderate) patient group from critical (severe and non-survivor) patient group.

CONCLUSION

NLR is a strong predictor for the prognosis for severe COVID-19 patients when the cut-off chosen was 4.4, the combined mortality risk factor COVID-19 disease generated from RDW-CV, NLR, MNR and PLT is best as a mortality haematocytometric index.

Clinical Outcome Prediction in COVID-19 Patients by Lymphocyte Subsets Analysis and Monocytes' iTNF-α Expression

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, "SARS-CoV-2", was recognized as the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have explored the changes and the role of inflammatory cells and cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of the disease, but until today, the results have been controversial. Based on these premises, we conducted a retrospective assessment of monocyte intracellular TNF-α expression (iTNF-α) and on the frequencies of lymphocyte sub-populations in twenty-five patients with moderate/severe COVID-19. We found lymphopenia in all COVID-19 infected subjects compared to healthy subjects. On initial observation, in patients with favorable outcomes, we detected a high absolute eosinophil count and a high CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes ratio, while in the Exitus Group, we observed high neutrophil and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts. During infection, in patients with favorable outcomes, we observed a rise in the lymphocyte count, in the monocyte and in Treg lymphocyte counts, and in the CD4+ and in CD8+ T lymphocytes count but a reduction in the CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio. Instead, in the Exitus Group, we observed a reduction in the Treg lymphocyte counts and a decrease in iTNF-α expression. Our preliminary findings point to a modulation of the different cellular mediators of the immune system, which probably play a key role in the outcomes of COVID-19.

Dynamic Survival Analysis for EHR Data with Personalized Parametric Distributions

The widespread availability of high-dimensional electronic healthcare record (EHR) datasets has led to significant interest in using such data to derive clinical insights and make risk predictions. More specifically, techniques from machine learning are being increasingly applied to the problem of dynamic survival analysis, where updated time-to-event risk predictions are learned as a function of the full covariate trajectory from EHR datasets. EHR data presents unique challenges in the context of dynamic survival analysis, involving a variety of decisions about data representation, modeling, interpretability, and clinically meaningful evaluation. In this paper we propose a new approach to dynamic survival analysis which addresses some of these challenges. Our modeling approach is based on learning a global parametric distribution to represent population characteristics and then dynamically locating individuals on the time-axis of this distribution conditioned on their histories. For evaluation we also propose a new version of the dynamic C-Index for clinically meaningful evaluation of dynamic survival models. To validate our approach we conduct dynamic risk prediction on three real-world datasets, involving COVID-19 severe outcomes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) onset, and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) time-to-transplant. We find that our proposed modeling approach is competitive with other well-known statistical and machine learning approaches for dynamic risk prediction, while offering potential advantages in terms of interepretability of predictions at the individual level.

Perspective: Nutritional Strategies Targeting the Gut Microbiome to Mitigate COVID-19 Outcomes

More than a year has passed since the first reported case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection in the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei Province. Until now, few antiviral medications (e.g., remdesivir) or drugs that target inflammatory complications associated with SARS-CoV2 infection have been considered safe by public health authorities. By the end of November 2020, this crisis had led to >1 million deaths and revealed the high susceptibility of people with pre-existing comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension) to suffer from a severe form of the disease. Elderly people have also been found to be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV2 infection and morbidity. Gastrointestinal manifestations and gut microbial alterations observed in SARS-CoV2-infected hospitalized patients have raised awareness of the potential role of intestinal mechanisms in increasing the severity of the disease. It is therefore critically important to find alternative or complementary approaches, not only to prevent or treat the disease, but also to reduce its growing societal and economic burden. In this review, we explore potential nutritional strategies that implicate the use of polyphenols, probiotics, vitamin D, and ω-3 fatty acids with a focus on the gut microbiome, and that could lead to concrete recommendations that are easily applicable to both vulnerable people with pre-existing metabolic comorbidities and the elderly, but also to the general population.