COVID-19 is a highly selective disease in which SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in different clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic/mild to severe disease that requires hospitalization. In this study, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in a glycosylation reprogramming of circulating lymphocytes at diagnosis. We identified a specific glycosignature of T cells, defined upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and apparently triggered by a serological factor. This specific glycan switch of T cells is detected at diagnosis being more pronounced in asymptomatic patients. We further demonstrated that asymptomatic patients display an increased expression of a viral-sensing receptor through the upregulation of DC-SIGN in monocytes. We showed that higher levels of DC-SIGN in monocytes at diagnosis correlates with better COVID-19 prognosis. This new evidence pave the way to the identification of a novel glycan-based response in T cells that may confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic patients, highlighting a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target.

COVID-19 是一种高度选择性的疾病，其中 SARS-CoV-2 感染可导致不同的临床表现，从无症状/轻度到需要住院治疗的严重疾病。在这项研究中，我们证明了 SARS-CoV-2 感染会导致诊断时循环淋巴细胞的糖基化重编程。我们确定了 T 细胞的特定糖印记，定义为 SARS-CoV-2 感染，显然是由血清学因素触发的。这种 T 细胞的特定聚糖转换在诊断时被检测到，在无症状患者中更为明显。我们进一步证明，无症状患者通过单核细胞中 DC-SIGN 的上调显示出病毒感应受体的表达增加。我们发现诊断时单核细胞中较高水平的 DC-SIGN 与更好的 COVID-19 预后相关。