OC-58 Inflammatory milieu and specific T cells response after three months and one year from SARS-CoV-2 infection

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Background Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) is characterized by a plethora of symptoms, whose aetiology is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyse inflammatory/coagulative factors and the specific T cells response to SARS-CoV-2 and investigate if they are associated with the presence of PCC. Material and methods Adult participants, diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 during 2020–2021 were enrolled. Blood and plasma samples were collected after three (T3M) and 12 months (T12M) post-acute COVID19. Demographic and clinical data were collected during each visit and structured in an electronic system. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, IL-2) and coagulative factors (D-Dimer, E-sel, ICAM, VCAM) were tested by Elisa test at T3M and T12M. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with a mixture of Spike (S) and Nucleocapside (N) peptides to analyse SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells response. IFN-γ production was quantified by Elispot assay. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used for comparisons. Spearman correlation between all markers, including serologic parameters (IgM, IgG, IgA, neutralization title), was showed with a heat map. Results We included 196 participants: 39% female, with a median age of 56.5 years (IQR 49.5–64.9), 78% of them were previously hospitalized for COVD-19. The median time between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the post COVID evaluation was of 86 days (78–91), 34% reported post-COVID symptoms, of which 68% with only 1 symptom. Most symptoms were respiratory (54%), followed by asthenia (30%) and neuropsychological (14%). At T3M and T12M, according with symptoms onset (presence or not), the inflammatory profile generally did not change (IL-8, TNF-a, IL1b) except for IL-6 which decreased significantly from T3M to T12M (p=0.02) and with no differences according with symptoms (figure 1 A). With respect to coagulation factors a general increase was observed at T12M of all markers (D-D-Dimer: p=0.0002; E-Sel and VCAM: p=0.0001; ICAM-1 p=0.006), independently from the presence of symptoms (figure 1 B). Spike specific T cells response was higher than N response at T3M (p=0.0009), by reaching the same level at T12M, and was not associated with the presence of symptoms (figure 1 C). According to the heat map showed in figure 1 D, a significant expression of inflammatory/coagulative factors was measured a T12M post infection. Conclusion In this cohort, the analysis of inflammatory/coagulative milieu showed altered coagulation factors one year after the acute COVID-19, by meaning that SARS-CoV-2-damage lasts for a long time after infection. Moreover, T cells specific response was detected 12 months after COVID19, even though lower than that observed 3 months after infection, suggesting the maintenance of the protective memory T cells response overtime.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.