{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 characterized by dysregulated levels of membrane and soluble cluster of differentiation 48.
{Author}: Pahima H;Zaffran I;Ben-Chetrit E;Jarjoui A;Gaur P;Manca ML;Reichmann D;Orenbuch-Harroch E;Tiligada E;Puxeddu I;Zinner C;Tzankov A;Levi-Schaffer F;
{Journal}: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
{Volume}: 130
{Issue}: 2
{Year}: 02 2023
{Factor}: 6.248
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.anai.2022.10.009
{Abstract}: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can progress into a severe form of acute lung injury. The cosignaling receptor cluster of differentiation 48 (CD48) exists in membrane-bound (mCD48) and soluble (sCD48) forms and has been reported to be implicated in antiviral immunity and dysregulated in several inflammatory conditions. Therefore, CD48 dysregulation may be a putative feature in COVID-19-associated inflammation that deserves consideration.<BR>To analyze CD48 expression in lung autopsies and peripheral blood leukocytes and sera of patients with COVID-19. The expression of the CD48 ligand 2B4 on the membrane of peripheral blood leukocytes was also assessed.<BR>Twenty-eight lung tissue samples obtained from COVID-19 autopsies were assessed for CD48 expression using gene expression profiling immunohistochemistry (HTG autoimmune panel). Peripheral whole blood was collected from 111 patients with COVID-19, and the expression of mCD48 and of membrane-bound 2B4 was analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum levels of sCD48 were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.<BR>Lung tissue of patients with COVID-19 showed increased CD48 messenger RNA expression and infiltration of CD48+ lymphocytes. In the peripheral blood, mCD48 was considerably increased on all evaluated cell types. In addition, sCD48 levels were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19, independently of disease severity.<BR>Considering the changes of mCD48 and sCD48, a role for CD48 in COVID-19 can be assumed and needs to be further investigated.