Uncovering Immunological Basis of Post-Acute Sequelae Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Poster presentation

Description

Children typically experience asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, but some may develop persisting, potentially severe long-term symptoms, known as long COVID-19. The immunological mechanisms that may underlie this are still poorly understood, but emerging data implicate altered B cell activation and autoantibody production. Furthermore, whether unique immune profiles characterise the specific manifestations of long COVID-19 remains to be determined.. In this cross-sectional study of a paediatric population an online tool is used to conduct an initial screen for long COVID-19 following a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Study participants that meet the long COVID-19 criteria are evaluated in person with the validated International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) tool. Children that have fully recovered from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection are used as controls. The assessment of B cell activation is carried out by flow cytometry, using antibodies against CD19, CD27, IgD, IgM, CD21 and CD38, enabling the identification of transitional (IgMhiCD38hi), naïve (IgD+CD27-), switched (IgD-CD27+) and unswitched memory (IgD+CD27+), activated (CD21loCD38lo) as well as double negative B cells (IgD-CD27-) and plasmablasts (IgM-CD38++). Anti-nuclear antibody measurements in serum are used as a further readout for dysregulated B cell activation.. A total of 220 children (under 18 years old) with long COVID-19 have been identified with the online screening tool. For long COVID-19, the most frequent symptoms reported are exercise intolerance (56.6%), fatigue (52%) and mood swings (50%). Our preliminary B cell profiling (8 long COVID-19 and 4 controls) reveals a trend for IgM-CD38++ plasmablast expansion.. The pipeline established through this study has enabled the identification of study participants with a range of long COVID-19 manifestations. Further in-depth analysis of B cell activation pathways in this well-characterised paediatric cohort will allow us to delineate how B cell dysregulation may contribute to the range of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 sequelae.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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