A dynamic immune response shapes COVID-19 progression
Eugenia Ziying Ong1,2, Yvonne Fu Zi Chan3 , Wan Ying Leong1,2, Natalie Mei Ying Lee3 , Shirin Kalimuddin2,3, Salahudeen Mohamed Haja Mohideen4 , Kian Sing Chan5 , Anthony Tanoto Tan2 , Antonio Bertoletti2 , Eng Eong Ooi1,2,3, and Jenny Guek Hong Low1,2,3,6.
Summary
The inflammatory response to SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is thought to underpin COVID-19 pathogenesis. We conducted daily transcriptomic profiling of three COVID-19 cases and found that the early immune response in COVID-19 patients is highly dynamic. Patient throat swabs were tested daily for SARS-CoV-2 with the virus persisting for 3-4 weeks in all three patients. Cytokine analyses of whole blood revealed increased cytokine expression in the single more severe case. However, most inflammatory gene expression peaked after respiratory function nadir, except those in the IL1 pathway.