ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Laboratory findings from a significant number of patients with COVID-19 indicate the occurrence of leukocytopenia, specifically lymphocytopenia. Moreover, infected patients can experience contrasting outcomes depending on lymphocytopenia status. Patients with resolved lymphocytopenia are more likely to recover, whereas critically ill patients with signs of unresolved lymphocytopenia develop severe complications, sometimes culminating in death. Why immunodepression manifests in patients with COVID-19 remains unclear. Therefore, the evaluation of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings from infected patients is critical for understanding the disease course and its consequences. In this review, we take a logical approach to unravel the reasons for immunodepression in patients with COVID-19. Following the footprints of the virus within host tissues, from entry to exit, we extrapolate the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of immunodepression.

摘要

2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 是由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起的高度传染性病毒性疾病。大量 COVID-19 患者的实验室检查结果表明出现白细胞减少症，特别是淋巴细胞减少症。此外，根据淋巴细胞减少状态，感染患者可能会经历不同的结果。淋巴细胞减少症得到解决的患者更有可能康复，而淋巴细胞减少症未得到解决的重症患者会出现严重的并发症，有时甚至导致死亡。为什么 COVID-19 患者会出现免疫抑制尚不清楚。因此，评估感染患者的临床症状和实验室检查结果对于了解疾病进程及其后果至关重要。在这篇综述中，我们采用合乎逻辑的方法来阐明 COVID-19 患者免疫抑制的原因。追踪病毒在宿主组织内从进入到退出的足迹，我们推断出免疫抑制现象背后的机制。