PMC7734022_01
PMC7734022_02
Flow cytometric analysis of monocytes in the peripheral blood in three patients diagnosed as positive for SARS-CoV-2: one with mild disease and two with signs of severe cytokine storm. Monocytes were identified as CD3- large cells gated based on HLA-DR and CD14 expression. Monocytes were further classified as classical (CD14+CD16-), intermediate (CD14+CD16+), and non-classical (CD14-CD16+).
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PMC7734022_02_fped-08-576912-g0001.jpg
F1
In both patients, flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed a high monocyte count (patient 1, 22%; patient 2, 32%), due to the increase in intermediate and non-classical monocytes, which are known to produce inflammatory cytokines (Figure 1); IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) serum levels were elevated (Table 2). After 14 days of treatment, monocyte count (Figure 1) and interleukin levels (Table 2) were significantly decreased.