Lymphocyte Subsets in Covid-19 Saudi Patients: Infection Caused Significant Reduction in Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subset.

BACKGROUND

In this research study, we aimed to analyze the changes in the lymphocyte subsets in Saudi patients with Covid-19 and assess the possible association of differences in lymphocyte subsets with the infection in local population of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy and from Covid-19 patients admitted to Al Nour Hospital from October through December 2022. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to measure the absolute and relative counts of lymphocyte subsets.

RESULTS

The analysis showed that most patients with Covid-19 disease showed moderate illness. The observed symptoms were cough, fever, and feeling tired. In Covid-19 patients, a significant reduction in CD3+ T-cell, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, B cell, NK cell, and total lymphocyte cell counts have been seen when compared to the healthy control person. Also, the percentage of CD3+T-cells and CD4+ T-cells was significantly decreased in Covid-19 pa-tients compared to the control. In contrast, the percentage of CD4+CD8+ T-cells, CD16+CD56+ NK cells, and CD19+ B-cells was higher in Covid-19 patients versus the healthy control.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed similar changes as in a previous meta-analysis study including the disease severity and lymphocyte subset counts in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 and could be used as prognostic strategy to predict the outcome and severity of Covid-19 disease. To better understand and explain this reduction, further analysis of other factors, such as IL-4, lymph tissues structure, and N protein-specific antibody, is needed.