Characterizing distinct profiles of immune and inflammatory response with age to Omicron infection

Lina Zhang; Zhanwen Wang; Feng Lyu; Chun Liu; Chunhui Li; Wei Liu; Xinhua Ma; Jieyu Zhou; Xinyu Qian; Zhaoxin Qian; Yong Lu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1189482

Characterizing distinct profiles of immune and inflammatory response with age to Omicron infection

Front Immunol. 2023 Jun 30:14:1189482. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1189482. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lina Zhang^{1

2

3}, Zhanwen Wang^{1

2

3}, Feng Lyu⁴, Chun Liu⁵, Chunhui Li^{2

6}, Wei Liu^{1

2

3}, Xinhua Ma^{1

2

3}, Jieyu Zhou⁴, Xinyu Qian⁴, Zhaoxin Qian^{1

2

3}, Yong Lu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
⁴ School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
⁵ Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
⁶ Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
⁷ Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital Luwan Branch, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Background: Understanding inflammatory and immune responses to Omicron infection based on age is crucial when addressing this global health threat. However, the lacking of comprehensive elucidation hinders the development of distinct treatments tailored to different age populations.

Methods: 1299 cases of Omicron infection in Shanghai were enrolled between April 10, 2022 and June 3, 2022, dividing into three groups by ages: Adult group (18-59 years), Old group (60-79 years), and Elder group (≥ 80 years). Laboratory data including inflammatory cytokines, cellular, and humoral immunity were collected and analyzed.

Results: The mean age of Adult, Old, and Elder groups were 44.14, 69.98, and 89.35 years, respectively, with 40.9% being men. The Elder group patients exhibited higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, but their lymphocyte counts were relatively lower. In comparison to the Old group patients, the Elder group patients demonstrated significantly lower CD3⁺ T-cell counts, CD3⁺ T-cell proportion, CD4⁺ T-cell counts, CD8⁺ T-cell counts, and CD19⁺ B-cell counts, while the NK-cell counts were higher. Omicron negative patients displayed a higher proportion of CD19⁺ B-cells and higher levels of Complement-3 and IL-17 compared to the positive patients in the Old group. Omicron negative patients had lower WBC counts, CD3⁺CD8⁺ T-cells proportion, and the levels of serum amyloid A and IgA in the Elder group, but the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio was higher.

Conclusions: Our study identified the distinct profiles of inflammatory and immune responses to Omicron infection varying with age and highlighted the diverse correlations between the levels of various biomarkers and Omicron infected/convalescent patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; age; immunology; inflammation; omicron.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Antigens, CD19
B-Lymphocytes*
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes*
China
Cytokines
Female
Humans
Killer Cells, Natural
Male
Middle Aged
Young Adult

Substances

Antigens, CD19
Cytokines

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2009800 to ZQ) and Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (202240204 to YL). The funders of the study had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, the writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.