Immune Cells Are DifferentiallyAffected by SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads in K18-hACE2 Mice
- Author:
Jung Ah KIM
1
;
Sung-Hee KIM
;
Jeong Jin KIM
;
Hyuna NOH
;
Su-bin LEE
;
Haengdueng JEONG
;
Jiseon KIM
;
Donghun JEON
;
Jung Seon SEO
;
Dain ON
;
Suhyeon YOON
;
Sang Gyu LEE
;
Youn Woo LEE
;
Hui Jeong JANG
;
In Ho PARK
;
Jooyeon OH
;
Sang-Hyuk SEOK
;
Yu Jin LEE
;
Seung-Min HONG
;
Se-Hee AN
;
Joon-Yong BAE
;
Jung-ah CHOI
;
Seo Yeon KIM
;
Young Been KIM
;
Ji-Yeon HWANG
;
Hyo-Jung LEE
;
Hong Bin KIM
;
Dae Gwin JEONG
;
Daesub SONG
;
Manki SONG
;
Man-Seong PARK
;
Kang-Seuk CHOI
;
Jun Won PARK
;
Jun-Won YUN
;
Jeon-Soo SHIN
;
Ho-Young LEE
;
Ho-Keun KWON
;
Jun-Young SEO
;
Ki Taek NAM
;
Heon Yung GEE
;
Je Kyung SEONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Immune Network 2024;24(2):e7-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:EN
- Abstract: Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.
