6533b82efe1ef96bd1292882

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Phenotypical and Functional Alteration of γδ T Lymphocytes in COVID-19 Patients: Reversal by Statins

Marta Di SimoneAnna Maria CorsaleElena Lo PrestiNicola ScichiloneCarmela PiconeLydia GiannitrapaniFrancesco DieliSerena Meraviglia

subject

T-Lymphocyte SubsetsSARS-CoV-2 infectionLeukocytes Mononuclearmevalonate pathwaystatinHumansCOVID-19γδ T cells; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; statin; mevalonate pathwayReceptors Antigen T-Cell gamma-deltaGeneral MedicineHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitorsγδ T cellsCOVID-19 Drug Treatment

description

(1) Background: statins have been considered an attractive class of drugs in the pharmacological setting of COVID-19 due to their pleiotropic properties and their use correlates with decreased mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, it is well known that statins, which block the mevalonate pathway, affect γδ T lymphocyte activation. As γδ T cells participate in the inflammatory process of COVID-19, we have investigated the therapeutical potential of statins as a tool to inhibit γδ T cell pro-inflammatory activities; (2) Methods: we harvested peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from COVID-19 patients with mild clinical manifestations, COVID-19 recovered patients, and healthy controls. We performed ex vivo flow cytometry analysis to study γδ T cell frequency, phenotype, and exhaustion status. PBMCs were treated with Atorvastatin followed by non-specific and specific stimulation, to evaluate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines; (3) Results: COVID-19 patients had a lower frequency of circulating Vδ2+ T lymphocytes but showed a pronounced pro-inflammatory profile, which was inhibited by in vitro treatment with statins; (4) Conclusions: the in vitro capacity of statins to inhibit Vδ2+ T lymphocytes in COVID-19 patients highlights a new potential biological function of these drugs and supports their therapeutical use in these patients.

10.3390/cells11213449https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells11213449