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. 2022 Oct;70(5):714-719.
doi: 10.1007/s12026-022-09269-w. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Low levels of the key B cell activation marker, HLA-DR, in COVID-19 hospitalized cases are associated with disease severity, dexamethasone treatment, and circulating IL-6 levels

Anthony Dobi  1   2 , Arthur Dubernet  3 , Mahary Lalarizo Rakoto  3   4 , Anne-Laure Sandenon Seteyen  3 , Damien Vagner  5 , Grégorie Lebeau  5 , Loïc Raffray  3   5   6 , Philippe Gasque  3   7
Affiliations

Low levels of the key B cell activation marker, HLA-DR, in COVID-19 hospitalized cases are associated with disease severity, dexamethasone treatment, and circulating IL-6 levels

Anthony Dobi et al. Immunol Res. 2022 Oct.
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Increased frequency of CD19 + B cells in moderate and severe COVID-19 hospitalized cases. For each patient, the percentage of CD19 + B cells was calculated among total lymphocytes by flow cytometry. Data are presented as median and IQR. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) is indicated as follows: (*) comparison versus the healthy donors (HD) group; (#) comparison versus the mild group
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Decreased HLA-DR surface expression on B cells of COVID-19 hospitalized cases: the impact of disease severity and DXM treatment. For each patient, HLA-DR expression was evaluated on CD19 + B cells by flow cytometry (MFI), according to disease severity (A) and comparing patients with or without (w/o) DXM treatment (B), (C) and (D). Data are presented as median and IQR (A) and mean and SD (B), (C) and (D). Statistical significance (p < 0.05) is indicated as follows: (*) comparison versus the healthy donors (HD) group; (#) comparison versus the mild group; ($) comparison with the moderate group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
DXM-independent reduction of HLA-DR expression on B cells is correlated with IL-6 plasma levels. For each patient, IL-6 plasma levels were measured by ELISA, according to disease severity (A) and comparing different groups of patients (B) and (C). Of note, the analysis could not be performed for two patients of each category (A) due to insufficient plasma samples. Data are presented as median and IQR (A) and (B), and mean and SD (C). Statistical significance (p < 0.05) is indicated as follows: (*) comparison versus the healthy donors (HD) group; (#) comparison versus the mild group; ($) comparison with the moderate group. A negative correlation was found between B cell HLA-DR and IL-6 levels (D). Linear regression (solid line), Spearman correlation coefficient (r) and p-value are depicted. Of note, the correlation was made with the data of patients for whom IL-6 plasma levels could be measured (N = 53), but also with those of healthy donors (N = 12)
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References

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