2026-04-29T18:25:25Zhttps://repisalud.isciii.es/rest/oai/request

oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/253732025-12-18T12:59:56Zcom_20.500.12105_2052com_20.500.12105_2051com_20.500.12105_15322col_20.500.12105_19609col_20.500.12105_16988

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Sánchez-Menéndez, Clara author de la Calle-Jiménez, Olivia author Mateos, Elena author Vigon-Hernandez, Lorena author Fuertes, Daniel author Murciano-Antón, María Aranzazu author San José, Esther author García-Gutiérrez, Valentín author Cervero, Miguel author Torres, Montserrat author Coiras, Mayte author 2024 Introduction: After mild COVID-19 that does not require hospitalization, some individuals develop persistent symptoms that may worsen over time, producing a multisystemic condition termed Post-COVID condition (PCC). Among other disorders, PCC is characterized by persistent changes in the immune system that may not be solved several months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: People with PCC were recruited to determine the distribution and functionality of CD4+ T helper (Th) subsets in comparison with individuals with mild, severe, and critical presentations of acute COVID-19 to evaluate their contribution as risk or protective factors for PCC. Results: People with PCC showed low levels of Th1 cells, similar to individuals with severe and critical COVID-19, although these cells presented a higher capacity to express IFNγ in response to stimulation. Th2/Th1 correlation was negative in individuals with acute forms of COVID-19, but there was no significant Th2/Th1 correlation in people with PCC. Th2 cells from people with PCC presented high capacity to express IL-4 and IL-13, which are related to low ventilation and death associated with COVID-19. Levels of proinflammatory Th9 and Th17 subsets were significantly higher in people with PCC in comparison with acute COVID-19, being Th1/Th9 correlation negative in these individuals, which probably contributed to a more pro-inflammatory than antiviral scenario. Th17 cells from approximately 50% of individuals with PCC had no capacity to express IL-17A and IL-22, similar to individuals with critical COVID-19, which would prevent clearing extracellular pathogens. Th2/Th17 correlation was positive in people with PCC, which in the absence of negative Th1/Th2 correlation could also contribute to the proinflammatory state. Finally, Th22 cells from most individuals with PCC had no capacity to express IL-13 or IL-22, which could increase tendency to reinfections due to impaired epithelial regeneration. Discussion: People with PCC showed skewed polarization of CD4+ Th subsets with altered functionality that was more similar to individuals with severe and critical presentations of acute COVID-19 than to people who fully recovered from mild disease. New strategies aimed at reprogramming the immune response and redirecting CD4+ Th cell polarization may be necessary to reduce the proinflammatory environment characteristic of PCC. Front Immunol. 2024 Aug 27:15:1431411. 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1431411 1664-3224 Frontiers in immunology 39257580 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/25373 CD4+ T cells T helper polarization Th1 Th17 Th2 Cytokines Post-covid condition Different polarization and functionality of CD4+ T helper subsets in people with post-COVID condition