Monocytes subpopulations pattern in the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus infection and after long COVID-19

Abstract

Introdution and ObjectiveThe present study sought to characterize the pattern of monocyte subpopulations in patients during the course of the infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus or who presented long COVID-19 syndrome compared to monocytes from patients with zika virus (Zika) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV). CasuistryStudy with 89 peripheral blood samples from patients, who underwent hemogram and serology (IgG and IgM) for detection of Zika (Control Group 1, n = 18) or CHIKV (Control Group 2, n = 9), and from patients who underwent hemogram and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2 at the acute phase of the disease (Group 3, n = 19); and of patients who presented long COVID-19 syndrome (Group 4, n = 43). The monocyte and subpopulations counts were performed by flow cytometry. ResultsNo significant difference was observed in the total number of monocytes between the groups. The classical (CD14++CD16−) and intermediate (CD14+CD16+) monocytes counts were increased in patients with acute infection or with long COVID-19 syndrome. The monocytes subpopulations counts were lower in patients with infection Zika or CHIKV. ConclusionIncrease in the monocyte subpopulations in patients with acute infection or with long COVID-19 syndrome may be an important finding of differentiated from the infection Zika or CHIKV.