1. Enhanced Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antigen-Specific Systemic Immune Responses in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Reversal After Recovery
- Author
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Nathella Pavan Kumar, Aishwarya Venkataraman, Arul Nancy, Kadar Moideen, Poovazhagi Varadarjan, Elilarasi Selladurai, Thankgavelu Sangaralingam, Ramya Selvam, Akshith Thimmaiah, Suresh Natarajan, Ganesh Ramasamy, Syed Hissar, Umadevi Radayam Ranganathan, and Subash Babu
- Subjects
Interleukin-13 ,Interleukin-6 ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Interleukin-17 ,Immunity ,Interleukin-18 ,COVID-19 ,Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ,Communicable Diseases ,Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ,Interferon-gamma ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunology and Allergy ,Cytokines ,Humans ,Interleukin-4 ,Chemokines ,Child ,Antigens, Viral - Abstract
Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) presents with inflammation and pathology of multiple organs in the pediatric population in the weeks following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods We characterized the SARS-CoV-2 antigen–specific cytokine and chemokine responses in children with MIS-C, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and other infectious diseases. Results MIS-C is characterized by elevated levels of type 1 (interferon-γ, interleukin [IL] 2), type 2 (IL-4, IL-13), type 17 (IL-17), and other proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-18, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) in comparison to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases following stimulation with SARS-CoV-2–specific antigens. Similarly, upon SARS-CoV-2 antigen stimulation, CCL2, CCL3, and CXCL10 chemokines were significantly elevated in children with MIS-C in comparison to the other 2 groups. Principal component analysis based on these cytokines and chemokines could clearly distinguish MIS-C from both COVID-19 and other infections. In addition, these responses were significantly diminished and normalized 6–9 months after recovery. Conclusions Our data suggest that MIS-C is characterized by an enhanced production of cytokines and chemokines that may be associated with disease pathogenesis.
- Published
- 2022