Early expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells inhibits SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response and may predict fatal COVID-19 outcome

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Oct 27;11(10):921. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03125-1.

Abstract

The immunological mechanisms underlying the clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those influencing the disease outcome remain to be defined. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been described to be highly increased during COVID-19, however, their role remains elusive. We performed an in depth analysis of MDSC in 128 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC expanded during COVID-19, in particular in patients who required intensive care treatments, and correlated with IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α plasma levels. PMN-MDSC inhibited T-cells IFN-γ production upon SARS-CoV-2 peptides stimulation, through TGF-β- and iNOS-mediated mechanisms, possibly contrasting virus elimination. Accordingly, a multivariate regression analysis found a strong association between PMN-MDSC percentage and fatal outcome of the disease. The PMN-MDSC frequency was higher in non-survivors than survivors at the admission time, followed by a decreasing trend. Interestingly, this trend was associated with IL-6 increase in non-survivors but not in survivors. In conclusion, this study indicates PMN-MDSC as a novel factor in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV2 infection, and open up to new therapeutic options.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Area Under Curve
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • Betacoronavirus / metabolism
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / cytology
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / cytology
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Pandemics
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • ROC Curve
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Survival Rate
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / blood
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Peptides
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II