A low level of CD16(pos) monocytes in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is a marker of severity

摘要

Objectives: Severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are characterized by an excessive production of inflammatory cytoldnes. Activated monocytes secrete high levels of cytoldnes. Human monocytes are divided into three major populations: conventional (CD14(pos)CD16(neg)), non-classical (CD14(dim)CD16(pos)), and intermediate (CD14(pos)CD16(pos)) monocytes. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the distribution of conventional (CD16(neg)) and CD16(pos) monocytes is different in patients with COVID-19 and whether the variations could be predictive of the outcome of the disease.