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Editorial
. 2021 Jan;109(1):7-8.
doi: 10.1002/JLB.5CE0920-613R. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Atypical monocytes in COVID-19: Lighting the fire of cytokine storm?

Brandt D Pence  1   2
Affiliations
Editorial

Atypical monocytes in COVID-19: Lighting the fire of cytokine storm?

Brandt D Pence. J Leukoc Biol. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Discussion on the observed association between unique populations of circulating monocytes and severity of COVID-19.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Severe COVID-19 is associated with the presence of atypical monocytes. In a sample of COVID-19 patients, a population of monocytes is observed with high forward scatter by flow cytometry. A more extensive profiling of these cells demonstrated that they are highly vacuolated and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. Additionally, they express the intermediate/nonclassical phenotype marker CD16 as well as mature macrophage markers CD80 and CD206. Finally, circulating monocytes are shown to express ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. Questions (marked with a red “?”) remain as to whether direct binding of SARS-CoV-2 to monocytes mediates these changes, or whether the mechanism of actions result from indirect stimulation
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Comment on

References

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